A case of breast angiosarcoma clearly delineated by contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography

Abstract

We present a case of breast angiosarcoma. Although B‐mode ultrasonography did not indicate a tumor, contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) was successfully delineated it. CEUS helped identify the tumor and its extent.

A case of primary breast angiosarcoma diagnosed by multimodal ultrasound imaging with literature review

“…While there are limited reports on CEUS diagnosis of PBA, the cases that have been documented show early lesions with heterogeneous enhancement and an expanded enhancement range, as opposed to two‐dimensional ultrasound, along with contrast agent retention in the later stages 8,11,14–16 . In the present case, the patient exhibited arterial phase enhancement with rapid contrast agent uptake, demonstrating centripetal non‐uniform enhancement with indistinct borders and an expanded range, and delayed contrast agent retention in the venous phase, aligning with the findings reported by Guo et al 8,11,14–16 Inflammatory lesions and breast cancer can also manifest with heterogeneous enhancement, an expanded enhancement range, and perfusion defects, necessitating differentiation based on clinical features. If no obvious perfusion defects are detected within the enhancing lesion, it may be due to well‐differentiated angiosarcomas having good vascular differentiation and a rich vascular structure, resulting in a complex perfusion pattern on contrast‐enhanced ultrasound, making it challenging to observe significant filling defects.…”

“…If no obvious perfusion defects are detected within the enhancing lesion, it may be due to well‐differentiated angiosarcomas having good vascular differentiation and a rich vascular structure, resulting in a complex perfusion pattern on contrast‐enhanced ultrasound, making it challenging to observe significant filling defects. PBA commonly displays centripetal non‐uniform enhancement in the arterial phase and delayed enhancement in the venous phase on CEUS, which is considered a distinctive feature of breast angiosarcoma 16 …”