benign vs malignant

benign margins

smooth and rounded

malignant margins

indistinct, fuzzy, spiculated

benign shape

rounded or oval, large lobulations

malignant shape

sharp, angular, microlobulations

malignant orientation

taller than wide

Radial growth suspicious for introduction lesions

benign echo pattern

- isoechoic

- hyperechoic

malignant echo patterns

- hypo

- weak

- internal echoes

- clustered

- microcalcifications

benign attenuation effects

posterior enhancement

malignant attenuation effects

strongly attenuating

benign mobility

some

malignant mobility

firmly fixed

benign compressibility

fatty tumors usually compressible

malignant compressibility

rigid

malignant vascularity

hypervascular; feeder vessel

benign sonographic characteristics of a solid mass

grows within tissue, causing compression of the tissue adjacent to the mass

malignant sonographic characteristics of a solid mass

- grows through tissue without compressing adjacent tissues

- may cause retraction of the nipple or dimpling of skin

Sharp angular margins are associated with

malignancy

malignant lesions compared to fat

Hypoechoic, weak internal echoes