title: Normal and abnormal US findings at the mastectomy site.
abstract: Evaluation of a mastectomy site is more effective with ultrasonography (US) than with either mammography or chest computed tomography because abnormalities are usually small and close to the skin surface. US does not involve the use of ionizing radiation and has a multiplanar scanning capability. The technique is readily available and inexpensive, and it allows real-time monitoring of needle tip placement during biopsy of a lesion. Normal US anatomy of the chest wall after mastectomy usually consists of four layers: skin, subcutaneous fat, pectoral muscles, and rib and intercostal muscle. The axilla is changed in appearance after lymph node dissection, but it remains the same in patients who have undergone simple mastectomy. US can accurately depict benign and malignant conditions in the mastectomy site, including fluid collection, fibrosis, local recurrent tumor, and metastatic lymphadenopathy, and can enable accurate diagnosis based on findings at fine needle aspiration biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography