Ultraschall Med 2005; 26 - P007
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-917507

THE SPECTRUM OF SONOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF AXILLARY LESION

BJ Kang 1, ES Cha 1, JI Jung 2, JH Lee 2, JM Lee 2
  • 1Radiology, St. Vincent Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon
  • 2Radiology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea

Purpose: To review the characteristic imaging features of various axillary lesion and evaluate usefulness of axillary scan in the routine breast sonography.

Methods and Materials: We collected and reviewed axillary lesions in the routine breast sonography perfomed at our institution between November 17, 1998, and April 10, 2005.

Results: There were numerous findings at the axillary scan in the routine breast sonography. Benign lymph node, accessory breast, lipoma, inflammatory change, and skin lesion such as epidermoid cyst or sebaceous gland cyst were common. Benign fibroadenoma, cyst, and galactocele arising from accessory breast were detected. Postoperative fibrosis, seroma, hematoma, and reactive lymph node were benign lesions at the postoperative sonography. Malignant lesions such as breast cancer arising from accessory breast, metastatic lymph node were seen. And at last, pseudolesion due to prominent pectoralis muscle, vasculature, or accessory breast, which mimicking malignant lymph node under other image modalities, were included.

Conclusions: This study suggests that axillary scan in routine breast sonography is important and knowledge of the various findings of the axillary lesions is helpful to detect and differentiate the lesions.