Imaging benign inflammatory syndromes.
Benign mastitis is a rare disease and its management is difficult. The diagnostic challenge is to distinguish it from carcinomatous mastitis. We make a distinction between acute mastitis secondary to an infection, to inflammation around a benign structure or to superficial thrombophlebitis, and chronic, principally plasma cell and idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. Imaging is often non-specific but we need to know and look for certain ultrasound, mammogram or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs to give a pointer as early as possible towards a benign aetiology. A biopsy should be undertaken systematically where there is the slightest diagnostic doubt, to avoid failing to recognise a carcinomatous mastitis.
Breast Radiology Unit, institut Bergonié, 229, cours de l'Argonne, 33000 Bordeaux, France. ferron@bergonie.org
S
S
Ferron
M
M
Asad-Syed
M
M
Boisserie-Lacroix
J
J
Palussière
G
G
Hurtevent
D000208:Acute Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D008413:Mastitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D014463:Ultrasonography