Authors retrospectively reviewed the sonographic patterns of 30 fibroadenoma and 15 breast cancers in the comparison group, and classified them into direct findings(i. e. contour, echo-level & texture, shape, degree of elongation, level of
posterior
echogenicity of mass, and presence or absence of lateral refractive shadowing) of mass itself and indirect findings(i.e. distortion or thickening of skin, thickening or angulation of Cooper's ligament, alteration in subcutaneous fat, &
interruption
of
retromammary layer) resulting from tissue changes adjacent to breast mass.
@ES Results were as follows .
@EN 1. The typical sonographic pattern of fibroadenoma showing regular contour, oval or round shape, & homogenous echo-texture was noted in 53%.
2. The degree of elongation was above 1 in all cases of fibroadenoma, and above 1.4 in 90% fibroadenomas. But, it is below 1 in 27% breast cancers alone.
3. The posterior enhancement of minimal or above intermediate degree was noted in 60% fibroadenomas. And, the combined delineation of posterior enhancement & lateral refractive shadowing were noted in 30% fibroadenomas.
4. The positive rate of indirect findings was 17% in fibroadenoma compared to 80% in breast cancer.
In conclusion, sequential & careful evaluation of the degree of elongation of mass, presence or absence of posterior enhancement &lateral refractive shadowing, and above mentioned indirect findings in addition to basic diagnostic criterias such
as
contour, inner echogenicity, echo-texture, and shape of mass is method valuable for not only the accurate assessment of typical fibroadenoma but also the differential diagnosis of atypical fibroadenoma from breast cancer.
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