The clinical significance of recognizing distinct morphologic features of systemic diseases on breast biopsies

Radiological findings of breast involvement in benign and malignant systemic diseases

Although the primary purpose of periodic mammograms in screening programs is to identify lesions suspected of being carcinomas, the findings are often related to systemic (benign or malignant) diseases, rather than breast cancer. Although the involvement of breast structures in systemic diseases is unusual, it can be included in the differential diagnosis of masses, skin changes, calcifications, asymmetry, and axillary lymphadenopathy. The main diagnostic entities that can be associated with such involvement are diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart diseases, connective tissue diseases, HIV infection, lymphoma, leukemia, and metastases from primary tumors at other sites. In many cases, information related to knowledge and treatment of chronic diseases is not available to the radiologist at the time of evaluation of the mammography findings. The purpose of this essay is to offer relevant pictorial information to the general radiologist about systemic diseases involving the breast, expanding the range of differential diagnoses in order to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.

Characteristics of systemic diseases in the breast: clinical, imaging and pathologic features

Despite tremendous efforts placed on advances in diagnosis and treatment of the spectrum of breast disease, the impact of systemic diseases on the breast has remained under recognized. Distinction between a variety of benign breast diseases versus those that are manifestations of a systemic disease is critically important for appropriate treatment planning and follow-up of patients. This article is designed to provide an overview of different systemic diseases that can present as a breast lesion. Attempts are made to highlight the significance of the distinction between benign breast disease versus benign conditions that present as the result of a systemic disease. Naturally, distinction between any benign condition versus breast carcinoma is a part of the evaluation process.