Sonography of the breast has become invaluable in the characterization of breast lesions identified on mammography or at physical examination. The ability of sonographers and sonologists to employ critical thinking skills when imaging breast lesions is an important aspect to correctly diagnose and follow breast pathology. The purpose of this article is to delineate this process and provide examples of each sonographic categorization that these masses might present with. With careful attention to what can and should be documented with every breast lesion found by sonography, consistency to clinical and surgical treatment may increase.
The Critical Thinking Co.™Staff: What Is Critical Thinking? Critical Thinking Definition. Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://www.criticalthinking.com/company/articles/criticalthinking-definition.jsp
2.
Kim KG, Kim JH, Goo Min B.: Classification of malignant and benign tumors using boundary characteristics in breast ultrasonograms. J Digital Imaging2002;15:224-227.
3.
Su Y., An T., Wang D., et al: Evaluation of ultrasonic scores in differential diagnosis of breast solid lesions. J Diagn Med Sonography2009;25:310-315.
4.
American College of Radiology (ACR): Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System Atlas (BI-RADS® Atlas). Reston, VA, American College of Radiology, 2003. Retrieved March 26, 2010, from http://www.acr.org/SecondaryMainMenuCategories/quality_safety/BIRADSAtlas/BIRADSAtlasexcerptedtext/BIRADSUltrasoundFirstEdition.aspx
5.
Pearson JR: A practical review of breast anatomy and pathology. J Diagn Med Sonography1988;4:305-308.
6.
Curry RA, Tempkin BB: Ultrasonography: An Introduction to Normal Structure and Functional Anatomy . Philadelphia, Saunders, 1995.
7.
Nelsen DJ, Rouse GA, De Lange M.: Sonographic evaluation of solid breast masses. J Diagn Med Sonography1994; 10:312-316.
8.
Stavros AT, Thickman D., Rapp CL, et al: Solid breast nodules: use of sonography to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Radiology1995 ;196:123-134.
9.
Lazarus E., Mainiero MB, Schepps B., et al: BI-RADS lexicon for US and mammography: interobserver variability and positive predictive value. Radiology2006 ;239:385-391.
10.
Ocker J.: BI-RADS lexicon for ultrasound useful for differentiating benign from malignant solid masses. AJR Am J Roentgenol2005;184:1260-1265.
11.
Chala L., Endo E., Kim S.: Gray-scale sonography of solid breast masses: diagnosis of probably benign masses and reduction of the number of biopsies. J Clin Ultrasound2007; 35:199-205.
12.
Sohn C., Blohmer JU, Hamper U.: Breast Ultrasound: A Systemic Approach to Technique and Image Interpretation . New York, Thieme Stuttgart, 1999.
13.
Hanif MA, Bradley MJ: Sonographic findings of necrotizing fasciitis in the breast. J Clin Ultrasound2008;36:517-519.
14.
Siewert B., Jacobs T., Baum JK: Sonographic evaluation of subcutaneous hemangioma of the breast. AJR Am J Roentgenol2002;178:1025-1027.
15.
Raza S., Baum K.: Solid breast lesions: evaluation with power Doppler US. Radiology1997;203:164-168.
16.
Santamaria G., Velasco M., Vanrell JA, et al: Power Doppler sonography of invasive breast carcinoma: does tumor vascularization contribute to prediction of axillary status?Radiology2004;234:374-380.
17.
Mobbs LM, Jannicky EA, Weaver DL, et al: The accuracy of sonography in detecting abnormal axillary lymph nodes when breast cancer is present. J Diagn Med Sonography2005;21: 297-303.
18.
Hong AS, Rosen EL, Soo MS, Baker JA: BI-RADS for sonography: positive and negative predictive values of sonographic features. AJR Am J Roentgenol2005;184: 1260-1265.
19.
Concepcion MA, Molina D.: Accuracy of selected BI-RADS ultrasonographic features for the diagnosis of breast tumors among Filipino adult females consulting at a tertiary private medical center. Biomed Imaging Interv J2007;3(1): e12-260.
