title: Can sonography be used to help differentiate between radial scars and breast cancers?
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether sonography can help differentiate radial scars (RS) from breast cancers. Series of 75 consecutive mammographic screen-detected RS and carcinomas were reviewed: shape, orientation, echotexture, halo, acoustic attenuation and architectural distortion were compared for sonographic RS and cancers. RS were 43% sonopositive (25/58 examined) vs. 93% sonopositive carcinomas (68/73 examined); P<0.001. Of 22 RS and 66 cancers available for film review, findings were: echogenic halo in zero RS vs. 38 cancers (0% vs. 58%); tiny sonographic cysts in 3 RS vs. zero carcinomas (14% vs. 0%); assessment category malignant vs. indeterminate/suspicious (8% vs. 59%, P<0.001); breast architecture disruption (43% vs. 91%, P<0.001); sound attenuation (55% vs. 86%, P<0.005), taller-than-wide shape (36% vs. 56%, P=0.11). RS showed echogenic components more than cancers (32% vs. 9%, P=0.016). Jagged margins were equally seen (77% vs. 76%, P=0.89). The findings suggest that sonographic differences can help discriminate between RS and carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: BreastScreen Department, St. Vincent's Hospital, PO Box 2900, Fitzroy 3065, Victoria, Australia. cawsonjn@svhm.org.au
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cawson
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods