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Breast mastitis

Breast mastitis ultrasound case study

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Breast Pathology

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Breast mastitis ultrasound case study

Case Study Record

SN	Case Name	Report Line
1	Right Breast mastitis	View Report Line
2	Left Breast mastitis	View Report Line
3	Bilateral Breast mastitis	View Report Line

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CASE–1
Right Breast Mastitis

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Clinical History

A 28-year-old lactating female presented with pain, tenderness, and localized swelling of the right breast for the past 3 days. She also reported warmth and redness over the affected area, with associated low-grade fever. There was no history of nipple retraction, bloody nipple discharge, or previous breast surgery.

Ultrasound Findings

Ultrasound examination of the right breast demonstrates an area of heterogeneous hypoechoic parenchymal echotexture involving the symptomatic region, with associated interstitial edema and skin thickening. Increased vascularity is noted within the involved breast parenchyma on Color Doppler imaging. The affected area shows ill-defined margins without a discrete well-defined drainable fluid collection. No definite focal abscess, solid mass, or suspicious cystic lesion is identified. The right axillary lymph nodes may show mild reactive enlargement with preserved fatty hila.

Ultrasound of the right breast. Sonographic image demonstrates heterogeneous hypoechoic breast parenchyma with surrounding edema and skin thickening in the symptomatic region, consistent with inflammatory changes of mastitis.

Color Doppler ultrasound of the right breast. Increased vascularity is demonstrated within the inflamed breast parenchyma, supporting the diagnosis of mastitis.

Report Line

Ill-defined heterogeneous hypoechoic area involving the right breast parenchyma with associated skin/interstitial edema and increased vascularity on Color Doppler, consistent with inflammatory changes of mastitis. No definite drainable abscess or focal suspicious solid lesion identified.

Impression

Sonographic features suggestive of right breast mastitis without a drainable abscess.

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Recommendation

Clinical correlation is advised. Appropriate medical management and follow-up should be considered according to clinical findings. If symptoms persist or worsen despite treatment, repeat ultrasound examination may be performed to assess for development of a breast abscess or other focal complication. Persistent or atypical imaging findings should undergo further breast evaluation as clinically indicated.

Key Learning Points

• Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast and is commonly encountered during lactation.
• Ultrasound may demonstrate heterogeneous hypoechoic parenchymal changes, edema, skin thickening, and increased vascularity.
• Color Doppler commonly demonstrates increased vascularity within the inflamed breast tissue.
• A breast abscess should be suspected when a focal complex or fluid-containing collection develops within the inflamed tissue.
• Reactive axillary lymphadenopathy may accompany breast inflammation.
• Ultrasound is useful for distinguishing uncomplicated mastitis from a focal drainable collection.
• Persistent, recurrent, or atypical inflammatory changes require appropriate clinical and breast-imaging follow-up to exclude an underlying lesion.