Skin Thickening on Ultrasound

IMAGING FINDINGS: ​​

The skin is markedly thickened on ultrasound evaluation.

WHY IT MATTERS:

1. Skin thickening differential diagnosis: Mastitis/infection, Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), generalized edema, post-radiation changes, other systemic inflammatory conditions. 
   
2. Is it bilateral or unilateral? Bilateral points to systemic disease.
   
3. Is there any associated erythema or pain/fever?  Use clues to try and narrow down the differential.
   

FURTHER READING:
Skin Thickness in the Therapeutically Irradiated Breast (American Roentgen Ray Society, 1978)