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Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Breast, Oncology, Mammography, MR, Ultrasound, Vacuum assisted biopsy, Biopsy, Neoplasia, Cancer
Authors:
C. A. C. Lyrio, R. Feres, M. Corpa, C. Shimizu, P. C. Moraes; São Paulo/BR
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2015/C-1892
Background
Mucocele-like tumors of the breast (MLT) are an uncommon condition in which the lesion is characterized pathologically by an accumulation of mucin.
In 1986,
Rosen¹ described mucocele-like tumors of the breast as a benign cystic lesion with mucinous material that breaks into the adjacent stroma,
similarly to the mucocele of the salivary glands.
Subsequent studies demonstrated that MLT is part of spectrum of pathologic findings characterized by pure benign tumor,
benign tumor with atypical ductal hyperplasia,
with in situ component or even associated with mucinous carcinoma.
Because mucocele-like tumors may be associated with these other conditions,
it is difficult to differentiate a pure mucocele-like tumor from a malignant tumor on the basis of fine-needle aspiration or core needle biopsy findings alone and complete excision is usually recommended.
As not all mucocele-like tumors are accompanied by neoplastic processes,
the use of the term lesion over tumor has been suggested.
Some studies with radiological correlation showed that malignant MLT tends to have more obvious gross calcifications than the pure benign MLT on mammography and the diagnosis of MLT must be considered in the cases with cystic ultrasound correlation to mammographic grouped calcifications ².
There are several studies demonstrating the pathologic features of mucocele-like tumors but few showing their findings on mammography,
ultrasonography and MRI.