Atlas of breast cancer early detection

A mass lesion seen on ultrasound is described by the following morphological features:

• Shape
• Orientation
• Margins
• Echotexture
• Posterior features
• Calcifications if present
• Associated features.

A mass visualized on breast ultrasound may be categorized as probably malignant or probably benign based on the combination of various features. Considering the descriptive ultrasound terminology, although there is significant overlap of features among benign and malignant breast masses, an oval or round, circumscribed, hypoechoic lesion in parallel orientation with no posterior features is likely to be a benign finding, and a lesion of irregular shape with spiculated margins, not parallel orientation, with posterior acoustic shadowing and internal vascularity is likely to be malignant.