Abstract
Aim
The objective of this study is to review the imaging features and percutaneous biopsy
findings of mucocele-like lesions (MLLs) of the breast and correlate these with histopathology
at surgical excision (SE), where available, to determine whether all MLLs of the breast
require surgery for management.
Materials and Methods
A search of two pathology databases was performed to identify 44 patients who had
been diagnosed with MLL of the breast and who had corresponding imaging findings available
for review. These patients' medical records were reviewed to determine patient age
at diagnosis, site of disease/affected breast, symptoms at diagnosis, mammographic
and sonographic findings and methods used for histopathologic diagnosis (percutaneous
biopsy and/or SE).
Results
The mean age of all patients was 56 years (range, 35–76 years). Sixteen patients had
MLLs diagnosed by core needle biopsy (CNB) or fine needle aspiration biopsy followed
by SE. Eighteen patients had CNB without SE and had clinical and imaging follow-up.
Ten patients had MLL diagnosed at SE without prior percutaneous biopsy. In total,
29 patients (66%) had MLLs without atypia, while 10 patients had MLLs associated with
atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) (23%) and five patients had MLLs associated with
ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (11%). Findings were upgraded at SE following the
percutaneous biopsy from ADH to DCIS in 19% (3/16) of patients.
Conclusion
Surgical excision following the identification of MLL is warranted to exclude coexisting
in situ carcinoma in specific situations where CNB detects the presence of associated
ADH or where a mass with indistinct or irregular margins is shown by mammography or
sonography.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 22, 2010
Accepted:
January 10,
2010
Received:
November 22,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
