Mammographic and Ultrasonographic Findings of Different Breast Adenosis Lesions

To describe imaging features of different breast adenosis lesions. Mammographic and ultrasonographic findings of patients with different types of adenosis were reviewed retrospectively Tissue samples were obtained either with US-guided core needle biopsy or localization with needle-wire system and surgical excision. Forty-three adenosis lesions were diagnosed in 41 patients: 27 sclerosing adenosis, 13 blunt duct adenosis and 3 microglandular adenosis. Most frequent abnormal findings of sclerosing adenosis were masses with non-circumscribed margins and focal acoustic shadowing without mass configuration (54%) on ultrasonography. Mammography was normal in 54% of sclerosing adenosis, the most common abnormality was architectural distortion (21%). In blunt duct adenosis, usually circumscribed masses (46%) were detected on ultrasonography, clustered punctate microcalcifications (23%) and circumscribed masses (23%) were observed on mammography. All microglandular adenosis lesions were non-circumscribed masses. Premalignant components were detected only with surgical excisional biopsy in three patients that showed suspicious radiological findings and benign pathological result on core biopsy. The adenosis lesions have no pathognomonic characteristics on mammography and ultrasound. Total excision may be considered when suspicious radiological findings are present although core needle biopsy results are benign.