Inflammatory Breast Cancer on Mammography

IMAGING FINDINGS: ​​

Craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique views of the left breast demonstrate diffuse skin thickening, more prominent in the lower inner quadrant.  No mass or suspicious calcifications are identified.

WHY IT MATTERS:

1. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but highly lethal form of breast cancer. It presents as sudden onset of skin erythema and thickening.  Usually there are not other mammographic findings.
2. The differential diagnosis for IBC includes mastitis, post-radiation change, and other inflammatory skin conditions.
   
   

FURTHER READING:
What Radiologists Need to Know about Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Breast Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach (RadioGraphics 2013)