title: Sclerosing adenosis of the breast: report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sclerosing adenosis is a benign, usually asymptomatic lobulocentric proliferative process that involves both the epithelial and the mesenchymal component of the breast. It is commonly an incidental finding in perimenopausal women undergoing screening mammography.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reported on two patients with sclerosing adenosis assessed with mammography, ultrasound, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Case 1 was a 21-year-old woman with a palpable lesion in her right breast that was depicted as an irregular mass on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Case 2 was an asymptomatic 42-year-old woman with suspicious ultrasound findings in her left breast; contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed regional non-mass-like enhancement associated with increased vascularity. Both patients underwent ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy. Sclerosing adenosis does not have distinctive radiological features and can mimic a malignant growth process, thus requiring a diagnostic biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SA is a common, benign, generally asymptomatic proliferative lesion of the breast. It is associated with a doubling of the risk of developing breast carcinoma, even though its role in carcinogenesis remains to be elucidated. It does not exhibit distinctive MG, US or even MRI features. Since it may mimic a carcinoma it requires further investigation with a diagnostic biopsy.
authors: Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart-Foundation for Research and Treatment "John Paul II", Campobasso, Italy.
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Cucci
authors: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart-Foundation for Research and Treatment "John Paul II", Campobasso, Italy.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Santoro
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart-Foundation for Research and Treatment "John Paul II", Campobasso, Italy.
authors: Cinzia
authors: C
authors: Di Gesù
authors: Department of Oncology, Gynaecologic Oncology Unit, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart-Foundation for Research and Treatment "John Paul II", Campobasso, Italy.
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Di Cerce
authors: Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart-Foundation for Research and Treatment "John Paul II", Campobasso, Italy.
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Sallustio
keywords: Breast; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mammography