J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  1997 Mar;16(1):79-85.

Recurrent Cancer and Postoperative Scar of Breast : Differential Findings on Ultrasonogram

• Lee YH
• Kim JH
• Kim YW
• Kang YS
• Kim HS
• Jung BY
• Chang ES
• Suh KS

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ultrasonographic features of recurrent breast cancers and postoperative scars. MATERIALS & METHODS: Internal echogenicity, homogeneity, shape, definition of margin, boundary echo, posterior sound transmission, and color doppler signals were evaluated for 28 postoperative scars (in 25 patients) and 14 recurrent breast cancers (in 14 patients). The cancers were confirmed by biopsy or operation.
RESULTS
Eight cases (57%) of recurrent breast cancers showed isoechogenicity compared with subcutaneous fat, while 17 cases (61%) of postoperative scars showed hypoechogenicity. Eight cancers (57%) and 19 scars (68%) showed inhomogeneous internal echogenicity. Twelve cancers (86%) had round or oval shapes and 2 (14%) were amorphous, while 21 scars (75%) were amorphous and 5 (18%) had linear shape and 2 (7%) had round or oval shapes (P < 0.05). Margin of eight cancers (57%) were smooth marginated, while its of 24 scars (86%) were irregular marginated (P < 0.05). Boundary echo showed in 11 cancers (79%), but none in postoperative scars. Seven cancers (50%) showed no sound transmission and 6 (43%) showed posterior enhancement, while 20 scars (71%) showed posterior shadowing. Color doppler signals showed in 3 cancers (21%) and 5 scars (18%).
CONCLUSION
Relatively smooth marginated, round or oval shaped lesions with boundary echo suggested recurrent breast cancer, while irregular marginated, amorphous or linear-shaped lesions without boundary echo suggested postoperative scar.

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Breast Neoplasms
Breast*
Cicatrix*
Shadowing (Histology)
Subcutaneous Fat
Ultrasonography*