Source
Department of Radiology, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF, England, UK. aconnors1@eircom.net
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To review the mammographic and ultrasound appearances in patients who have invasive ductal carcinoma with a central acellular zone (ring carcinoma), as this feature has been reported to be associated with a poorer outcome.
MATERIALS:
Eight patients were identified with ring carcinomas. Two breast radiologists reviewed their mammograms and ultrasound images. Patient records were reviewed to assess outcome.
RESULTS:
All patients had lesions deep within the breast, adjacent to the chest wall, five lesions were incompletely visualised on mammography. The appearance was of a circumscribed or obscured mass, without microcalcification. Five patients had ultrasound demonstrating a solid well-circumscribed hypoechoic microlobulated lesion.
CONCLUSION:
In our series of patients who have a ring carcinoma of the breast, mammographic and ultrasound appearances were similar in all cases and lacked the typical features of malignancy.