Which three characteristics are more commonly associated with benign breast masses?

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Multiple Choice

Which three characteristics are more commonly associated with benign breast masses?

Benign breast masses typically show a parallel, well-defined morphology on ultrasound: their long axis runs horizontally, so they are wider than tall. They are usually oval or round in shape with smooth, circumscribed margins. A low internal attenuation (which allows greater through-transmission) often leads to posterior acoustic enhancement, a feature seen with many benign lesions like fibroadenomas or simple cysts. This combination of orientation, shape, and attenuation strongly points toward a benign process rather than malignancy. In contrast, patterns suggesting malignancy include a mass that is taller-than-wide, irregular or lobulated margins, and irregular walls, sometimes with suspicious calcifications.

Benign breast masses typically show a parallel, well-defined morphology on ultrasound: their long axis runs horizontally, so they are wider than tall. They are usually oval or round in shape with smooth, circumscribed margins. A low internal attenuation (which allows greater through-transmission) often leads to posterior acoustic enhancement, a feature seen with many benign lesions like fibroadenomas or simple cysts. This combination of orientation, shape, and attenuation strongly points toward a benign process rather than malignancy.

In contrast, patterns suggesting malignancy include a mass that is taller-than-wide, irregular or lobulated margins, and irregular walls, sometimes with suspicious calcifications.

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