Pathologic breast conditions in childhood and adolescence: evaluation by sonographic diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
The growing awareness of female breast cancer has led to increased sensitivity toward pathologic breast conditions in children and adolescents. Thus, approximately 15% of patients in child and adolescent gynecology are referred for the first time because of conspicuous features of the breast such as pain, palpable masses, and other findings on visual inspection. The aim of this study was to analyze the underlying diagnoses and diseases and determine the status of breast sonography in the diagnostic process.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 62 female patients between 8 weeks and 20 years of age (1997-2002) who were examined clinically, followed by standardized sonography (7.5-13 MHz, conventional B-mode panoramic sonography). Presumed diagnoses were confirmed by biopsy in some patients (n = 16) and by follow-up with clinical examination and sonography in most cases (n = 46).


RESULTS
The clinical and sonographic evaluation confirmed 4 main groups of diagnoses: benign tumors (15), developmental disturbances (14), cystic changes (11), and inherent defects (7). In the remaining cases, the findings were no abnormality (9), nipple discharge without evidence of pathologic or morphologic correlates (3), abscesses (2), and epidermoid cyst (1).


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of regular breast development and its variants is essential for the physician. Given knowledge of the sonographic appearance of physiologic breast development and specific lesions, breast sonography is most helpful in identifying and characterizing abnormalities and guiding further investigation.
Bock
Karin
K
Medizinisches Zentrum für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Pilgrimstein 3, 35033 Marburg, Germany. bock@med.uni-marburg.de
Duda
Volker F
VF
Hadji
Peyman
P
Ramaswamy
Annette
A
Schulz-Wendtland
Rüdiger
R
Klose
Klaus-Jochen
KJ
Wagner
Uwe
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D047688:Breast Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010146:Pain; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*