J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  1998 Sep;17(3):261-265.

Ultrasonographic Findings of Breast Fibroadenoma; Focusing on Atypical Findings

• Kwon R
• Lee HC
• Cho N
• Kim EK
• Son HJ
• Oh KK
• Jung WH

Abstract

PURPOSE: Recently, atypical fibroadenomas of breast were frequently detected on ultrasonography. However, the sonographic features of atypical fibroadenoma are similar to breast carcinoma. The authors studied the sonographic appearnace of atypical fibroadenoma and tried to uncover the differential diagnosis points between atypical fibroademona and breast cancers. MATERIALS & METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed sonographic findings including internal echo patterns, marginal appearance, boundary thickness, posterior echo appearance, and bilateral Shadowing in 94 aptients(mean age :38.3 years) whith pathologically proven fibroadenoma.
RESULTS
Sonographic findings of fibroadenomas are isoechoic internal echo pattern(62.8%), oval shaped tumor margin(62.8%),thin boundary(85.1%) and posterior echo enhancement(96.8%). But atypical fibroadenomas showed heterogeneous internal echogenecity (28.7%), irregular tumor margin(35.3%), thick boundary(14%) and posterior echo echancement mimicking sonographic findings of breast carcinoma(3.2%).
CONCLUSION
For differentiation of atypical fibroadenoma and malignant masses, an objective sonographic criteria and development with training of sonographic techniques are needed.

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms
Breast*
Diagnosis, Differential
Fibroadenoma*
Retrospective Studies
Shadowing (Histology)
Ultrasonography