Lipoma

These common masses may be asymptomatic or palpable as a soft mobile mass, and they may be multiple. They are completely fat containing (radiolucent) on mammography ( Fig. 7-1 ). Occasionally, lipomas can contain central lucent-centered calcifications.

Lipoma.

On mammography, there is an oval, circumscribed, radiolucent mass ( arrows ) under a triangle marker denoting a palpable mass. US shows a corresponding mass ( calipers ) that is isoechoic to fat.

Elsewhere in the body, lipomas are hyperechoic. In the breast, however, lipomas on US are isoechoic to the fat or minimally hyperechoic (see Fig. 7-1 ). Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether a palpable lump represents a fat lobule or a lipoma. If it is just a fat lobule, the edges will blend into the next fat lobule. If it is a lipoma, rocking the transducer from side to side may demonstrate the well-defined margins. Note that fibroadenomas can also be isoechoic to fat, so correlation with mammography is important. A lipoma will be radiolucent, whereas a fibroadenoma will be radiopaque.

Oil Cyst

An oil cyst occurs when a fat lobule is devascularized and undergoes liquefaction necrosis, forming a lipid-containing mass. When an area of fat necrosis is larger than 1 cm, it is often referred to as an oil cyst. These cysts are usually due to significant trauma, such as a motor vehicle collision with seatbelt injury or an encounter with a surgeon ( Fig. 7-2 ). The rim of oil cysts often calcifies. In the acute phase, the mass may be mixed fat and soft tissue density, but will quickly evolve to fat density over a few months ( Box 7-2 ).

Oil Cysts After Reduction Mammoplasty.

This 61-year-old woman had reduction mammoplasty more than 10 years ago. There are several oval or round circumscribed, fat-containing masses in the right breast ( arrows ) that are consistent with oil cysts. Two are developing rim calcifications.

The US appearance of oil cysts can be quite variable ( Fig. 7-3 ). Remember that these are called oil cysts— their appearance is often similar to a fluid-filled cyst on US. The most common appearance is a round or oval circumscribed anechoic mass. Unlike fluid-filled cysts, though, oil cysts do not usually have increased through transmission and can even have some shadowing. Oil cysts can also have mixed echogenicity, mimicking a complex mass such as a papillary carcinoma. The lesions do not need aspiration or biopsy! Correlation with the mammogram is key. A papillary lesion would have to be white on the mammogram, whereas an oil cyst will be black.

Oil Cyst on US.

This patient with history of right breast lumpectomy and mastopexy 2 years ago presents with a palpable lump ( triangle ). On mammography, there is a circumscribed fat-containing mass diagnostic of an oil cyst. At first glance, US appears to show a simple cyst. On closer inspection, the mostly anechoic mass actually has two small mural masses ( arrows ) and lacks posterior acoustic enhancement. Although the US suggests a complex mass that would require biopsy, the appearance of the mass on mammography is pathognomonic for an oil cyst. BI-RADS 2. No intervention is required.

In its earliest stage, fat necrosis may present as a palpable mass, often with tenderness. The patient may or may not recall trauma or bruising. The US appearance of an oval, circumscribed, very hyperechoic subcutaneous mass is quite characteristic ( Fig. 7-4 ). If you are unsure about the cause, place a radiopaque marker over the finding and do a tangential view. The finding should correspond to a circumscribed fat-containing mass. If not, then biopsy should be considered.

US of Fat Necrosis.

This 32-year-old woman presented with a palpable lump in the medial left breast. US shows an oval, circumscribed, hyperechoic mass with a parallel orientation ( calipers ). The mass is more hypoechoic in the center. Eventually this will become anechoic (as in Figure 7-3 ). A clue to the diagnosis of fat necrosis is the subcutaneous location. She did not recall trauma or bruising, but a mammographic image confirms that this is a circumscribed fat-containing mass ( arrow ).

Lymph Node

Lymph nodes are unmistakable with their C-shaped cortex and central fat. Intramammary lymph nodes may require recall with spot compression views or even US if the fatty hilum is not visualized on a screening mammogram. Lymph nodes with an abnormal appearance, such as loss of the fatty hilum, enlargement, rounding, or focal or diffuse cortical thickening, should be considered suspicious, however, because these may contain metastatic deposits or lymphoma.

Galactocele

These masses are seen exclusively in women who are lactating or are late in pregnancy ( Fig. 7-5 ). Galactocele literally means “milk cyst,” which explains why this finding is included with the fat-containing masses. Human milk has a very high fat content. The fatty component will rise above the solids. That said, the fat-fluid line of a galactocele is rarely sharp. It is more common that there are bubbles of fat at the superior aspect of the mass on mammography.

Galactocele.

This woman was 3 months post partum with a large palpable lump. Right mediolateral oblique (MLO) view shows a large mass containing fat droplets, consistent with a galactocele. This was managed by observation and resolved after the completion of lactation.

(Image courtesy of Sandhai Agarwal.)

On US, galactoceles have mixed echogenicity. The contents often shift during scanning, similar to a complicated cyst.

Hamartoma

Let’s say that you have found a mixed-density circumscribed mass on mammography. Because is it not completely radiolucent, it is not a lipoma or an oil cyst. It doesn’t look like a lymph node, and the patients’ not pregnant or lactating. Of the five fat-containing circumscribed masses, that leaves only hamartoma. Occasionally, acute fat necrosis that has not yet formed a perfect oil cyst can appear as a mixed-density fat-containing mass on mammography. However, there is usually a history of trauma to help make that diagnosis.

Hamartomas are congenital masses with mixed fat and soft-tissue density and circumscribed margins ( Fig. 7-6 ). The soft-tissue component is often slightly strange looking—a little denser than the rest of the tissue and perhaps slightly distorted. Think of a hamartoma as a fat and soft-tissue mass in which the components have been slightly swirled. Our eyes tend to rest on the odd appearing white soft-tissue component and do not always recognize the surrounding fat and capsule. Reviewing many cases of hamartomas will train your eye to spot them easily as they are an Aunt Minnie.

Hamartoma.

There is an oval circumscribed mixed fat and soft-tissue density mass in the left breast at 2 o’clock ( arrows ). Because this is clearly not a lymph node and she is not pregnant or lactating, this is a hamartoma.

On US, hamartomas can also appear somewhat bizarre. Hyperechoic breast tissue is mixed with hypoechoic fat ( Fig. 7-7 ).

Palpable Hamartoma.

A 25-year-old with a palpable left breast mass was initially evaluated by US, which showed a discrete mass-like lesion resembling normal breast tissue. A single mammographic view shows a mass with mixed fatty and fibroglandular tissue ( arrows ) confirming the diagnosis.

Simple Cysts

The cysts should have imperceptible walls, be completely anechoic (a little reverberation artifact is fine), and demonstrate posterior acoustic enhancement ( Fig. 7-8 ). They may be multiple and wax and wane in size. Obviously a simple cyst needs no further intervention (BI-RADS 2). Or does it? What if she is 72 years old, not on hormones, and develops a new simple cyst? It’s still okay! The ACRIN 6666 Screening US trial found that 39% of postmenopausal women had simple breast cysts. Aspiration is not indicated unless the patient requests it because of pain. Routine screening is all that is needed (even if the mass is palpable).

Simple Cyst in a Postmenopausal Woman.

This 60-year-old woman had a new round mass on her mammogram ( arrow ). On US, this represented a simple cyst. BI-RADS 2. Routine screening is recommended. Aspiration is not needed.

On MRI, benign cysts may occasionally have a thin rim of enhancement around a T2 hyperintense mass ( Fig. 7-9 ). This is a normal finding, and aspiration or biopsy is not necessary.

Enhancing Benign Cyst.

There is only a thin rim of enhancement ( arrow ) and a corresponding hyperintense mass on T2.

Clustered Microcysts

These microcysts are a common, benign variant of simple cysts ( Fig. 7-10 ). They are essentially a lobule that is expanded with fluid. Think of them as a bunch of grapes. It’s really hard to take a good picture of them on US because some of the microcysts will be in the scan plane and others will not. At real time US, each of the microcysts should be otherwise simple.

Clustered Microcysts.

Each tiny cyst is simple. They are anechoic with thin walls. There are no intracystic masses. This looks like a nice cluster of grapes.

Of 203 women with clustered microcysts across four series, one cancer was detected, for an overall incidence of 0.5%. Clustered microcysts are BI-RADS 2, even in postmenopausal women. Just like simple cysts, microcysts may correspond to a new mammographic finding and are still BI-RADS 2. However, we need to look really closely. They should look like grapes that you would send with your child to school. If it looks like the grapes have been in your produce drawer too long—and you know what we mean—they have ill-defined margins, or if they look like grapes with seeds (which your children are not going to eat anyway), then biopsy should be considered. If the grapes have gone bad, they are no longer considered clustered microcysts but a complex cystic mass.

Complicated Cysts

These cysts contain diffuse low level echoes. If the echoes are seen swirling around inside the cyst or layer at real time US, then you know that it is a complicated cyst and not a solid mass ( Figs. 7-11 and 7-12 ). As long as the wall is thin, these cysts are typically BI-RADS 2.

Complicated Cyst.

At real time US, swirling debris was present throughout the cyst. No further evaluation was performed. BI-RADS 2.

Complicated Cyst with Layering Debris.

Layering debris in the dependent portion of the cyst shifts as the patient changes position and there is no flow on color Doppler. This finding is BI-RADS 2.

Differentiating a complicated cyst with low level echoes that are not moving from a solid mass can be very challenging ( Fig. 7-13 ). If blood flow is present within the mass, then it is solid. However, the absence of blood flow by Doppler interrogation does not exclude a solid mass. These masses must be assumed solid and managed as such. If the mass corresponds to a new or enlarging mass on mammography, then biopsy should be considered. An attempt can first be made to aspirate the lesion, followed by core biopsy if fluid is not obtained.

Complicated Cyst Versus a Solid Mass.

Even if no blood flow is detected on Doppler, this mass should be managed as though it were solid. If new, sampling will be needed. Aspiration may be attempted first, but if unsuccessful then core biopsy is performed.

The risk of malignancy is very low for complicated cysts. Nearly all of them are benign. Four cancers were detected in seven series that included a total of 1343 patients with complicated cysts for an overall cancer incidence of 0.3%. When these are identified in a background of other simple cysts, BI-RADS 2 is reasonable. However, a solitary complicated cyst on a first study may be considered BI-RADS 3. Aspiration may be indicated for a new or enlarging complicated cyst (BI-RADS 4), particularly if it is a solitary finding or high-density appearance on mammography.

Hemorrhagic Cyst

These cysts are also included in the category of complicated cysts. Hemorrhagic cysts have a very distinctive appearance ( Fig. 7-14 ). They look like the yin-yang symbol. These often occur following cyst aspiration. A small clot develops on the anterior wall and appears solid. These can be confused with complex masses. The solid clot, however, has a broad base along the wall rather than being exophytic within the cyst.

Hemorrhagic Cyst.

There is a broad-based clot on the anterior wall of the cyst. The patient gave a history of prior cyst aspiration by her gynecologist. BI-RADS 2.

Do you see these a lot in your practice? If so, then you have someone who is aspirating the fluid out of cysts. This is easy to change. After aspiration, injection of air into the cyst will considerably lower the chance of recurrence of the cyst. If you inject an equal or slightly smaller volume of room air into a cyst following aspiration, the likelihood of recurrence is only about 15% compared with 80% if you simply remove the fluid.