[Roentgenodiagnosis of the suppurative-inflammatory process in acute lactation mastitis]

The analysis of roentgen-diagnostics of pyo-inflammatory processes in the mammary glands in 365 patients with acute lactation mastitis has been made. Simple mammography is recommended as a simple and safe method for patients with acute lactation mastitis.

[Diagnosis, incidence and course of nonpuerperal mastitis]

The clinic of radiology at the university of Graz has examined 158 cases of nonpuerperal mastitis. By means of mammography and during further clinical course, differentiation to the inflammatory carcinoma was possible. In 55% of the examined cases one ore more clinical symptoms, which are described as typical for the nonpuerperal mastitis, were absent. With the help of mammography in most of all cases an exact diagnosis was made.

[Mammography in the diagnosis and treatment of non-puerperal mastitis (author's transl)]

Circumscribed or diffuse non-puerperal mastitis is usually associated with local signs of inflammation. In two-thirds of these cases it is possible to demonstrate the radiological features of mastitis. Mammography is an important diagnostic procedure in the demonstration of acute mastitis and its differentiation from an inflammatory carcinoma; it is also valuable in the control of treatment. The success of intensive antibiotic therapy with recovery of normal appearances in the chest can be observed objectively by mammography. In distinguishing mastitis from an inflammatory carcinoma, radiological evidence of regression under the influence of antibiotics is evidence in favour of mastitis.

Combined mammographic-sonographic evaluation of breast masses

Palpable breast masses which have a nondiagnostic appearance on the mammogram often require a biopsy to rule out malignancy. Contact B-scan ultrasonography of such masses were performed in an effort to improve the diagnostic accuracy of mammography and reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies. A total of 200 patients with breast masses of 1-8 cm were examined by both methods. The results of this combined evaluation were compared to those of mammography alone. Of 115 pathologically proven lesions, 44 were fluid-filled cysts. Sonography correctly diagnosed all 44 cysts, while mammography was equivocal in 27 (61%) of them. Of the remaining 71 solid masses, 38 were benign and 33 malignant. Mammography alone correctly diagnosed 31 carcinomas (94%), whereas sonography correctly diagnosed 26 (78.8%). While the infiltrating carcinomas have a typical sonographic appearance, circumscribed carcinomas may have the same sonographic features as fibroadenomas; the value of sonography here was to establish whether the mass was solid. In other solid masses such as those produced by dysplasias, abscesses, and mastitis, sonography was helpful in differentiating between diffuse and discrete lesions. The combined mammographic-sonographic evaluation of breast masses was more accurate than either method alone.

Computerized reconstructive tomography applied to breast pathology

Breast tumors can be clearly defined from the surrounding breast parenchyma by the use of computerized reconstructive tomography. Certain types of fibrocystic mastitis also can be distinguished from tumors, but other types of fibrous mastitis and probably fibroadenomas may not be distinguishable from tumors unless contrast material is used.