Defined by US appearance: ↑ echogenicity (brighter) relative to subcutaneous fat
Distinguish homogeneously hyperechoic from mixed hyper- and hypoechoic lesions
Echogenic rim: Indistinct, echogenic transition zone between lesion and surrounding tissue, suspicious
Distinguish from thin pseudocapsule due to compressed normal tissue (benign)
Echogenic foci due to Ca⁺⁺, clips, air
Edema: Diffuse hyperechogenicity in tissue
IMAGING
General Features
Mammographic Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Journo G et al: Hyperechoic breast images: all that glitters is not gold! Insights Imaging. 9(2):199-209, 2018
Nassar L et al: Predictors of malignancy in hyperechoic breast lesions. J Ultrasound Med. 35(4):783-90, 2016
Tiang S et al: Malignant hyperechoic breast lesions at ultrasound: A pictorial essay. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 60(4):506-13, 2016
Nam SY et al: Ultrasonographic hyperechoic lesions of the breast: are they always benign? Acta Radiol. 56(1):18-24, 2015
Adrada B et al: Hyperechoic lesions of the breast: radiologic-histopathologic correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 200(5):W518-30, 2013
Gao Y et al: Echogenic breast masses at US: to biopsy or not to biopsy? Radiographics. 33(2):419-34, 2013
Mendelson EB et al: Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System: BI-RADS: Ultrasound. 2nd ed. Reston: American College of Radiology, 2013
Linda A et al: Hyperechoic lesions of the breast: not always benign. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 196(5):1219-24, 2011
Linda A et al: The wide spectrum of hyperechoic lesions of the breast. Clin Radiol. 66(6):559-65, 2011
Okazaki H et al: Radiologic-pathological correlation of punctate hyperechoic foci by ultrasound in stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy samples. Jpn J Radiol. 27(10):438-43, 2009
Cawson JN: Can sonography be used to help differentiate between radial scars and breast cancers? Breast. 14(5):352-9, 2005
Paulinelli RR et al: Risk of malignancy in solid breast nodules according to their sonographic features. J Ultrasound Med. 24(5):635-41, 2005
Soo MS et al: Fat necrosis in the breast: sonographic features. Radiology. 206(1):261-9, 1998
Stavros AT et al: Solid breast nodules: use of sonography to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Radiology. 196(1):123-34, 1995
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Hyperechoic, echogenic
Definitions
Defined by US appearance: ↑ echogenicity (brighter) relative to subcutaneous fat
Distinguish homogeneously hyperechoic from mixed hyper- and hypoechoic lesions
Echogenic rim: Indistinct, echogenic transition zone between lesion and surrounding tissue, suspicious
Distinguish from thin pseudocapsule due to compressed normal tissue (benign)
Echogenic foci due to Ca⁺⁺, clips, air
Edema: Diffuse hyperechogenicity in tissue
IMAGING
General Features
Mammographic Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Journo G et al: Hyperechoic breast images: all that glitters is not gold! Insights Imaging. 9(2):199-209, 2018
Nassar L et al: Predictors of malignancy in hyperechoic breast lesions. J Ultrasound Med. 35(4):783-90, 2016
Tiang S et al: Malignant hyperechoic breast lesions at ultrasound: A pictorial essay. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 60(4):506-13, 2016
Nam SY et al: Ultrasonographic hyperechoic lesions of the breast: are they always benign? Acta Radiol. 56(1):18-24, 2015
Adrada B et al: Hyperechoic lesions of the breast: radiologic-histopathologic correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 200(5):W518-30, 2013
Gao Y et al: Echogenic breast masses at US: to biopsy or not to biopsy? Radiographics. 33(2):419-34, 2013
Mendelson EB et al: Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System: BI-RADS: Ultrasound. 2nd ed. Reston: American College of Radiology, 2013
Linda A et al: Hyperechoic lesions of the breast: not always benign. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 196(5):1219-24, 2011
Linda A et al: The wide spectrum of hyperechoic lesions of the breast. Clin Radiol. 66(6):559-65, 2011
Okazaki H et al: Radiologic-pathological correlation of punctate hyperechoic foci by ultrasound in stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy samples. Jpn J Radiol. 27(10):438-43, 2009
Cawson JN: Can sonography be used to help differentiate between radial scars and breast cancers? Breast. 14(5):352-9, 2005
Paulinelli RR et al: Risk of malignancy in solid breast nodules according to their sonographic features. J Ultrasound Med. 24(5):635-41, 2005
Soo MS et al: Fat necrosis in the breast: sonographic features. Radiology. 206(1):261-9, 1998
Stavros AT et al: Solid breast nodules: use of sonography to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Radiology. 196(1):123-34, 1995
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