title: Complex cystic breast masses in ultrasound examination.
abstract: Complex cystic masses are defined as lesions composed of anechoic (cystic) and echogenic (solid) components, unlike complicated cysts, the echogenic fluid content of which imitates a solid lesion. Complex masses are classified as ACR4 and require histological verification by percutaneous biopsy and/or surgical ablation. The etiology is diverse, and can be benign or high risk (an abscess, hematoma, fat necrosis, fibrocystic mastopathy, a phyllodes tumor, papilloma) as much as malignant (papillary cancer, necrotic cancer, a ductal carcinoma in situ, metastases). The biopsy technique must be adapted to each case and it is often necessary to insert a coil during the procedure. Histopathological correlation is essential to ensure that the samples are representative and concur with the ultrasound appearance, so as not to fail to recognize high risk or malignant lesions requiring appropriate management.
authors.affiliation: Medical Imaging Department, Institut Curie, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: alexandra.athanasiou@curie.fr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanasiou
authors.affiliation: Medical Imaging Department, Institut Curie, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aubert
authors.affiliation: Tumor Biology Department, Institut Curie, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vincent Salomon
authors.affiliation: Medical Imaging Department, Institut Curie, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tardivon
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Breast; Breast ultrasound; Complex cystic masses