Focal breast lesions with benign appearances: review of eight breast cancers with initial features of intramammary lymph node

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate whether certain histological types of early breast cancer may share radiographic features with intramammary lymph nodes. Materials and methods The previous mammograms of patients with histologically proven breast cancer and lesions displaying the morphological features of intramammary lymph nodes were retrospectively reviewed. Results Retrospective evaluation demonstrated eight breast cancers of varying histological nature—mostly ductal carcinomas not otherwise specified—whose early radiographic features were similar to intramammary lymph nodes. Conclusions Although uncommon, a lesion with the radiographic features of an intramammary lymph node may hide an early breast cancer. No significant relationship exists between histological type and the presence of such features.