Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Breast, MR, Ultrasound, Mammography, Biopsy, Cancer
Authors:
L. Fernandes1, J. Lopes Dias1, H. A. M. R. Tinto1, P. L. Pegado1, J. Raposo2, P. Santos1; 1Lisbon/PT, 2Lisboa/PT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-2248
Background
Inflammatory carcinoma (IC) of the breast is a relatively uncommon but aggressive form of invasive breast carcinoma with no characteristic clinical presentation or unique radiographic appearances.
Pathologically,
any subtype of primary breast carcinoma may be present,
but dermal lymphatic vessels must be involved.
Clinically,
inflammatory breast cancer mimics mastitis.
The breast is enlarged (often of relatively short onset),
indurated,
erythematous,
warm,
tender and painful.
The skin is thickened and edematous,
with a "peau d’orange" appearance.
There may or may not be an underlying palpable mass.
The condition may also present with flattening,
erythema,
crusting,
blistering or retraction of the nipple.
Fixed palpable ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes with metastatic disease,
are frequently observed.
The occurrence of inflammatory breast carcinoma,
although uncommon when compared with that of other malignancies,
remains a very aggressive malignancy,
with atendency to metastasize at an early stage.
Therefore,
information about this carcinoma is considered of value and interest to both radiologists and clinicians.