Clinical Features and Ultrasonographic Findings of Lactating Adenoma

Yoon, Jung Hyun; Kim, Eun Kyung; Kim, Min Jung; Kwak, Jin Young

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical manifestations and characteristic ultrasonographic findings of lactating adenoma in pregnant or lactating women.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ultrasonographic findings of nine lactating adenomas in nine patients (age range, 19-38 years; mean age, 30.4 years) were retrospectively reviewed. All of the lesions were histologically diagnosed with the use of an ultrasound (US) guided core needle biopsy. Ultrasonographic findings were categorized according to the ACR/BI-RADS classification.
RESULTS
The size of the lesions varied from 13 to 43 mm (mean, 27.8 mm). The most common findings of the breast lesions were an oval-shape (n = 9, 100%), presence of circumscribed margins (n = 5, 55.6%), a location parallel to the chest wall (n = 9, 100%), the presence of complex or hypoechoic lesions (n = 7, 77.8%), posterior acoustic enhancement (n = 5, 55.6%) and no microcalcifications (n = 8, 88.9%). Six lesions (66.7%) were classified as category 3 (probably benign lesions) and three lesions (33.3%) were classified as category 4A (low-suspicion for malignancy). Followup ultrasonography was performed in six patients; four (66.7%) patients showed complete resolution and two (33.3%) patients showed a decreased size of the lesions. One patient developed a milk fistula as a complication of the core needle biopsy as seen on a follow-up evaluation.
CONCLUSION
Ultrasonographic findings of lactating adenomas are generally benign, with some lesions displaying suspicious malignant findings. On follow-up US images after the use of an US-guided core needle biopsy, all lesions showed complete regression or a decreased size.