[Sonographic variability of lactating adenoma demonstrated by a longitudinal evaluation of 4 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Lactating adenoma are circumscribed benign breast lesions developing during pregnancy or lactation due to overall enhanced proliferation of steroid hormone dependent tissue. Sonography is the method of choice for imaging mainly because of the physiologically dense breast tissue. Which is the predictive value of sonography in the diagnosis of lactating adenoma? Are sonographic characteristics dependent on age of gestation or time of lactation? Which diagnostic procedure should be recommended?


METHODS
We report the long time course of four patients with histologically proven (core-needle biopsy, 16 Gauge) lactating adenoma, first diagnosed during pregnancy, which were followed up sonographically (1997-2000) with real-time B-mode, panorama-mode (Siescape) and colour-sonography.


RESULTS
Demonstrating a high inter- and intraindividual variability the tumors were biggest around parturitation. Despite ongoing lactation tumors regressed in size, but did not vanish completely even after definite termination of breast feeding. Evaluation of sonographical characteristics did not allow to rule out malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Three percent of all breast cancers at childbearing age coincide with pregnancy and lactation, therefore, an early histologic diagnosis is absolutely necessary. Sonographically guided core-needle biopsies allow to exclude malignancy without negative effects on breast feeding.
Bock
K
K
Universitäts-Frauenklinik, 35033 Marburg, Germany. bock@mailer.uni-marburg.de
Duda
V F
VF
Hadji
P
P
Iwinska-Zelder
J
J
Ramaswamy
A
A
Schmidt
S
S
Schulz
K D
KD
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D007774:Lactation; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods
Sonographische Variabilität laktierender Adenome am Beispiel von 4 langzeitüberwachten Fällen.