Multiple breast abscesses
The above described MRI and sonographic findings are consistent with breast abscesses.
The differential diagnosis of other rim-enhancing breast lesions on MRI:
invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): non-otherwise specified (NOS).
seroma
ruptured or inflamed cyst
invasive or intracystic papillary carcinoma
Abscess versus infiltrating ductal carcinoma:
the abscess shows prolonged slow intense enhancement, slow washout (plateau or type II time-intensity curve) with non-enhancing central fluid collection. This is in contrary to the DIC with rapid intense rim-enhancement and delayed centripetal enhancement which is highly specific
hyperintense on T2WI and STIR. The highly cellular carcinoma with is usually T2 isointense to hypointense
the abscess is most often near the nipple and is tender, palpable and may have erythema. Associated edema on T2WI. May have associated skin thickening (>2 mm)
in equivocal cases: US-guided aspiration/drainage. Follow-up after appropriate antibiotic course may be tried
- Angiosarcoma of breast
- Breast abscess
- Breast cyst
- Breast MRI enhancement curves
- Fibrocystic change (breast)
- Granulomatous mastitis
- Intracystic papillary carcinoma (breast)
- Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type
- Malignant phyllodes tumor
- Medullary carcinoma of the breast
- Papillary carcinoma of the breast