Breast Imaging in Pregnancy and Lactation

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Obstetrics & Gynecology

Background:

• Breast disorders during pregnancy and lactation necessitate thorough assessment.
• While often benign, these conditions require excluding pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC), which is frequently diagnosed late.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline diagnostic strategies for breast disorders during pregnancy and lactation.
• To emphasize the importance of excluding PABC and guide management based on imaging and biopsy.

Main Methods:

• Ultrasound (US) as the first-line imaging technique.
• Mammography and breast MRI for further assessment of suspicious findings.
• Biopsy for BI-RADS 3, 4, and 5 lesions when diagnostic doubt persists.

Main Results:

• Benign lesions can mimic malignancy during pregnancy/lactation due to imaging overlaps.
• PABC may not always present with typical malignant imaging features.
• Biopsy is essential for definitive diagnosis in equivocal cases.

Conclusions:

• Careful evaluation of all breast disorders during pregnancy and lactation is critical.
• A combination of imaging modalities and biopsy is necessary to accurately diagnose and manage PABC.
• Timely intervention based on precise lesion analysis and BI-RADS classification improves outcomes.