Galactoceles mimicking suspicious solid masses on sonography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sonographic appearance of a galactocele that can sonographically mimic a suspicious solid mass and to differentiate between a galactocele and a solid mass.


METHODS
From September 2002 to February 2004, 33 galactoceles classified as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 4 were included. They were all confirmed by sonographically guided core biopsies. Their sonographic imaging and clinical findings were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The lesions had a round or irregular shape in 26 patients (78.8%), a noncircumscribed margin in 31 (93.9%), a nonparallel orientation in 22 (66%), and posterior shadowing in 13 (39.4%). Twenty-five nodules (75.8%) had internal hypoechogenicity or mixed echogenicity. Twenty-nine (87.9%) of 33 lesions showed a relatively sharp convex echogenic rim on the anterior or posterior wall.


CONCLUSIONS
Galactoceles have various sonographic findings, many of which are similar to those of suspicious solid breast masses. However, there is a tendency for a galactocele to appear as a small, round hypoechoic nodule with an indistinct or microlobulated margin and mild posterior shadowing. It is helpful to search for a partial anterior or posterior echogenic rim to identify a galactocele.
Kim
Min Jung
MJ
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ekkim@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Kim
Eun-Kyung
EK
Park
Sun Young
SY
Jung
Hae Kyoung
HK
Oh
Ki Keun
KK
Seok
Jae Yeon
JY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary