SONOWORLD : Breast cyst in a teenage girl.

Username

Password

167,235 Registered Members as of 09/25/2018.

JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use Sonoworld.com in standard view. However, it seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser. To use standard view, enable JavaScript by changing your browser options, then try again.

Breast » Breast

Breast cyst in a teenage girl.

« Back to Listing

Author(s) :

Zoltan Harkanyi, MD, PhD

Pamela T. Johnson, MD

Presentation This 14 year old girl presented with a small palpable, painful mass in the left breast.

Caption: Sagittal sonogram of palpable abnormality.

Description: Small, well defined, anechoic cyst is seen in the left breast.

Caption: Transverse sonogram, left breast palpable mass.

Description: Small, well defined anechoic cyst.

Differential Diagnosis cyst
solid mass- fibroadenoma, cystosarcoma phylloides
dilated duct
abscess

Final Diagnosis Simple breast cyst.

Discussion The imaging modality of choice in a teenage girl with a palpable mass is ultrasound. The differential diagnosis includes benign solid masses, such as fibroadenoma or focal glandular breast tissue. Cysts, focally dilated ducts and abscesses are alternative considerations.

Breast cysts in pediatric and adolescent girls usually arise neaer the areola. They can be anechoic or complex with internal echoes. The etiology is dilation of the lobular acini.

A dilated or ectatic duct can also present as a palpable mass. These are generally elongated, and may be anechoic or contain internal debris. Infectious fluid collections unrelated to lactation usually arise in patients with predisposing conditions, such as diabetes or those who take steroids.

Discrete solid masses are most commonly fibroadenomas in this age group. The typical ultrasound appearance is a well-circumscribed oval or round mass. The mass usually demonstrates decreased echogenicity and is homogeneous. In 10-15%, multiple fibroadenomas are present.

Malignancy is very uncommon in this age group. The most common primary malignant mass in an adolescent is cystosarcoma phylloides. This mass appears as a smoothly marginated lesion which may be lobulated. It can contain cystic areas internally. It is more likely that a malignant mass in a child arises secondary to lymphoma, leukemia or metastatic neuroblastoma or rhabdomyosarcoma.

Case References (1) Weinstein Sp, Conant EF, Orel SG et al. Spectrum of US Findings in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Palpable Breast Masses. Radiographics 2000; 20: 1613-1621.

(2) Garcia CJ, Espinoza A, Dinamarca V et al. Breast US in Children and Adolescents. Radiographics 2000; 20: 1605-1612.

Technical Details GE, Logiq700, 5-10 MHz linear transducer

Follow Up The cyst spontaneously resolved.

Other contents by this AuthorOther Cases in This Category

Breast >> Breast

Breast carcinoma with metastases to axilla
A 40-year-old woman presents with a hard lump in the right breast. There was palpable right axillary lymphadenopathy. The following are the ultrasound images of the mass and the axillary node.

Breast ductal carcinoma
A 50-year-old woman presents with a lump in the right breast. An ultrasound was performed.

Focal mastitis
A 32-year-old lactating woman presents with severe localized pain in her left breast and fever for 2 days. An ultrasound of the breast was performed.

Fibroadenoma of the breast
A 25-year-old woman presents with a mobile breast mass. Mammography and sonomammography were performed.

Intraductal carcinoma
A 40-year-old woman presents with a hard and immobile lump in her breast. A mammogram and ultrasound of the mass was performed.

Recurrent carcinoma of the breast at lumpectomy site
Patient for follow-up;status post lumpectomy for carcinoma of the right breast.

Angiosarcoma of the breast
A 57-year-old woman presented with a recently palpable mass in the left breast. Prior yearly screening mammograms have been negative. Patient has a history of Hodgkins disease treated ...

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the breast
A 66-year-old woman presented with pain and swelling in her breast of 4 years duration. Breast imaging examinations from 2003 and 2004 are illustrated.

Carcinoma in ectopic breast tissue
A 36-year-old woman presents with a mass in the right axilla. Mammogram and ultrasound examination was performed.

Breast hamartoma
A 35-year-old woman presented with a palpable mass in her right breast. A mammogram and ultrasound were performed.

Breast abscess
A young lactating woman presents with severe pain and reddish area behind and around the left nipple. An ultrasound of the left breast was performed.

Fibroadenolipoma of the breast
This is the scan in a 31-year-old nulliparous woman with a lump in her left breast. She has a positive family history of breast cancer.

Phyllodes tumor
This 24 year old female presents for ultrasound of the left breast. There is a grossly obvious mass protruding from the surface of the breast.