Original report. Mucocele-like tumors of the breast: mammographic and sonographic appearances.

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to describe the mammographic and sonographic appearances of the mucocele-like tumor of the breast. The mucocele-like tumor is a rare lesion of the breast, the benign form of which has a nonspecific mammographic appearance. The tumor can present as indeterminate microcalcifications or as a nodule, often containing calcifications. The sonographic findings are of multiple well-defined hypoechoic oval or tubular structures with low-level internal echoes resembling complex cysts. Mucocele-like tumors of the breast can be associated with atypical hyperplasia or carcinoma. If a mucocele-like tumor is diagnosed at core needle biopsy, complete surgical excision is recommended, with careful evaluation of the entire specimen to exclude the presence of atypia or carcinoma.