Imaging methods in differentiation between inflammatory breast cancer and post-treatment changes

The aim of the study is assessment of the role of non-invasive imaging methods such as mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of inflammatory breast diseases. The study is mainly focused on the pitfalls in the diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer and differentiation against another inflammatory lesions, including breast tissue changes after radiation therapy. Inflammatory breast cancer has a mammographic pattern of inflammatory changes, such as skin thickening and stromal coarsening and/or diffusely increased breast density with or without an associated mass and/or malignant-type microcalcifications. Ultrasound is helpful not only in depiction of masses masked by the edema pattern, but also in the demonstration of skin and pectoral muscle invasion and axillary involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging is used to differentiate residual tumor from post-treatment fibrosis and glandular tissue.