FLUID CHANNELS WITHIN THE BREAST PARENCHYMA - A FEATURE IN BREAST INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS AT SONOMAMMOGRAPHY

Breast abscesses have been previously described in ultrasound literatu re. However, they may be confused with malignant masses both mammograp hically and by ultrasound. In this study, we have identified a new add itional feature which has not been previously described and is more sp ecific to infective conditions. At ultrasonography horizontal or obliq ue communicating or non-communicating fluid channels were demonstrated in 84.6% patients with infective inflammatory conditions. These fluid channels are easily differentiated from dilated ducts or blood vessel s by their appearances. Abscess collections were seen in 76.9%. Other findings in inflamed breasts, e.g. parenchymal posterior shadows, duct al dilatation etc., were inconsistently present and are not sufficient ly specific. No fluid channels were observed in patients with malignan t disease. It appears, therefore, that the presence of fluid channels usually denotes infective inflammation, if no recent surgery has taken place. This finding will help in differentiating infective inflammato ry lesions from malignant focal lesions.