INFLAMMATORY BREAST-CARCINOMA - MAMMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS

PURPOSE: To identify and quantitate mammographic characteristics of in flammatory carcinoma (IC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective anal ysis was made of the clinical and mammographic findings in 22 women (a ged 31-66 years [mean, 51 years]) with IC, who were seen between 1980 and 1990 at the authors' institution. RESULTS: A palpable mass was pre sent in 17 of the 22 women (77%); skin thickening, axillary adenopathy , nipple inversion, and erythema were common findings. At mammography, the findings in one woman with dense breasts were negative. A primary tumor, evident on the basis of a mass and/or malignant-type calcifica tions, was seen in all other cases. Skin thickening was present in 15 women, stromal coarsening in 11, diffusely increased breast density in nine, and axillary adenopathy in five. CONCLUSION: IC has a mammograp hic pattern, of inflammatory changes: skin thickening and stromal coar sening and/or diffusely increased breast density, associated with evid ence of a primary tumor mass and/or calcifications. In this series, in flammatory changes without an associated mass and/or malignant-type ca lcifications were not seen in women with IC.