logo Ultrasound Cases
powered by SonoSkills

October 2010

Hypoechoic mass in the left breast
Bookmark

Clinical information

Palpable mass in the left breast in a severely physically handicapped patient with bluish discoloration of the skin

Ultrasound Images & Clips

Hypoechoic mass in the left breast

Hypoechoic mass in the left breast
Hypoechoic mass in the left breast
Transverse image of the same mass with anechoic areas
Transverse image of the same mass with anechoic areas
Color doppler only reveals one small vessel
Color doppler only reveals one small vessel
A hematoma was suspected and a puncture was performed. The mass proved to be a hematoma and nearly all the blood was aspirated. After the puncture there was no detectable mass
A hematoma was suspected and a puncture was performed. The mass proved to be a hematoma and nearly all the blood was aspirated. After the puncture there was no detectable mass
More than a half year later the patient presented again with a lump in the same breast at the same site. Again a hematoma was found without any flow in the hematoma
More than a half year later the patient presented again with a lump in the same breast at the same site. Again a hematoma was found without any flow in the hematoma
This time however a solid looking mass was identified
This time however a solid looking mass was identified
Another image of the mass next to the hematoma
Another image of the mass next to the hematoma
The mass was highly vascularized
The mass was highly vascularized
The mass has multiple vessel poles
The mass has multiple vessel poles

Conclusion

The patient was operated. The final diagnosis was a recurrent hematoma caused by a malignant micropapillary breast cancer.
In case of a hematoma without a history of trauma, one should be aware of a possible tumor causing the hemorrhage. Although we searched for a mass the first time the patient presented with a hematoma, we were not able to detect one. Her physical condition led us to the wrong presumption that the trauma had not been noticed

Details

  • Sex: Female
  • Age: 51
Looking for MSK Ultrasound Education? Visit Sonoskills.com
photo Taco Geertsma
Author

Dr. Taco Geertsma

Retired Radiologist, Gelderse Vallei Hospital

Dr. Taco Geertsma is the founder of UltrasoundCases.info and a retired radiologist and has worked in the Gelderse Vallei hospital from January 1, 1983. till July 1, 2014. He was the head of the ultrasound department for many years.

More Cases from Taco Geertsma