title: Secretory carcinoma of the breast: sonographic features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this series was to evaluate the sonographic features of secretory carcinoma of the breast.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1994 and 2006, 9 patients had histologically confirmed secretory carcinoma of the breast in our institution, and 6 of them underwent breast sonography. We retrospectively evaluated the sonographic findings of the patients in correlation with other available images and reviewed the clinical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical manifestations were a palpable mass (n=3), a bloody nipple discharge (n=1), and screening-detected abnormalities (n=2). Breast sonograms showed masses with a round or oval (n=5) or tubular (n=1) shape, with relatively well-circumscribed (n=2) or partially microlobulated (n=4) margins, and with a hypoechoic (n=4) or an isoechoic (n=2) internal echo texture. Most lesions were single nodules (n=3) or groups of nodules (n=2) measuring 1 cm or smaller, except 1 mass measuring 3.5 cm with axillary lymph node metastasis. Two cases had associated ductectasia. Sonographic assessments were classified as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 3 in 2 cases, category 4A in 3 cases, and category 4B in 1 case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Secretory carcinoma of the breast is frequently shown as a small benign-looking nodule or group of nodules or sometimes as an intraductal lesion with a low clinical stage on sonography. Although secretory carcinoma is a rare breast malignancy, awareness of its sonographic features will be helpful for the differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Boo-Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jung Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Suk Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Yoon
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary