Abstract：Objective: The mammographic and sonographic findings of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis were studied retrospectively, hope to find the diagnostic criteria of this rare inflammatory disease of the breast with unknown etiology. Materials and Methods: Sonography was performed in all cases, 10 of which had mammographic study simultaneously, and were correlative with surgical and pathologic confirmation, the image characteristics of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis were analized. Result: Eleven of which showed a focal area with inhomogeneous and hypoechoic pattern, 6 of them had internal tubular hypoechoic structures. Nine cases revealed abnormal findings among 10 mammographic images, 6 of which appeared as focal asymmetric density. Two revealed a mass with irregular margins. The other one reflected a large opacity involving nearly the entire breast. There were 6 cases with inflammatory hyperplasia of axillary lymph node fonud by mammography as well as sonography simultaneously. Conclusion: A focal asymmetric density in mammography and internal tubular hypoechoic structures in a focal area with inhomogeneous and hypoechoic pattern in sonography may be a significant sign of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.
2006, Vol. 17 
