Mucocele-Like Tumors of the Breast as Cystic Lesions: Sonographic-Pathologic Correlation

Mucocele-Like Tumors of the Breast as Cystic Lesions: Sonographic-Pathologic Correlation
Sun Mi Kim, Hak Hee Kim, Doo Kyung Kang, Hee Jung Shin, Nariya Cho, Jeong Mi Park, and Joo Hee Cha
AJR 2011;196:1424-1430
   
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RESULTS:
Mammography showed 53 lesions had calcifications without (n = 39) or with (n = 14) a mass. Calcifications of intermediate concern or associated with higher probability of malignancy were found more frequently in mucocele-like tumors associated with ADH or malignancy than in pure mucocele-like tumors (92.3% vs 62.9%, p = 0.019). At ultrasound, 69 of the mucocele-like tumors (95.8%) were seen as a cystic mass. Cysts with thick septations, clustered cysts, and complex masses were more frequently seen in mucocele-like tumors associated with ADH or malignancy (89.7% vs 32.5%, p < 0.001). The positive predictive value for BI-RADS category 4 was 13.3% (95% CI, 6.9–24.2%) and was 50% for BI-RADS category 5 (95% CI, 15–85%).


CONCLUSION:
Mucocele-like tumors associated with ADH or malignancy were more frequently seen as clustered cysts, cysts with thick septations, and complex masses associated with calcifications of intermediate concern or higher probability of malignancy. BI-RADS can be used in the management of mucocele-like tumors.