Molybdenum target X-ray manifestations of breast cancer

X-ray manifestations of breast cancer can be divided into direct signs and indirect signs. Direct signs include mass, calcification, focal asymmetric density and structural distortion. Indirect signs include skin thickening or retraction, abnormal nipple and areola, edema around tumor, abnormal thickening of blood vessels, etc. Among them, lump and microcalcification are the most common X-ray signs of breast cancer, and lump is the most common and basic X-ray sign of breast cancer, which is the main basis for diagnosis of breast cancer. Tumors with irregular shapes and burrs are usually considered malignant.

Masses vary in size, and X-ray films show that masses are mostly smaller than clinical palpation, which is one of the malignant signs. Skin edema, pericancerous inflammation and pericancerous infiltration are the main reasons why clinical masses are often larger than those seen by X-ray. In most cases, the mass density is dense, similar to or slightly higher than the adjacent breast parenchyma. The shape of the mass is mostly round, lobulated or irregular. Most masses not only have neat edges, blurred boundaries, but also slight and obvious burrs or infiltration. Sometimes the outline may be partly clear and partly blurred. The length of the burr is different, which can be as long as several centimeters, or it can be very short and brush-like. Calcification plays a particularly important role in the diagnosis of breast cancer. As a main sign of breast cancer, it can not only help to diagnose breast cancer, but also can be found and diagnosed early only by molybdenum target examination in a considerable number of asymptomatic cases that cannot touch the mass.

Either X-ray photography finds that calcification is malignant, and most calcified lesions detected by X-ray photography are benign, so doctors can evaluate the benign and malignant calcification according to its shape and distribution. Morphological manifestations of fine pleomorphism, thin line-like or thin line-like calcification suggest that malignant calcification is highly suspected; Malignant tumors are usually linear, segmental and clustered. Vascular calcification, rough or popcorn calcification, rod calcification, punctate calcification, translucent central calcification and eggshell calcification are typical benign calcification. Irregular or fuzzy calcification and rough and uneven calcification are suspected calcification, and both benign and malignant lesions can be seen, which should be considered comprehensively in combination with the distribution. For calcified lesions that are difficult to identify, unless the possibility of malignancy is ruled out, X-ray localization biopsy of breast is needed. Sometimes breast cancer does not appear as a mass, but only as a focal asymmetric density.

Usually, bilateral breast tissues are basically symmetrical, but tiny asymmetry is very common. In most cases, this asymmetric dense shadow is a benign lesion, such as hyperplasia, chronic inflammation, cyst and so on. Some of them are caused by cancer, especially lobular cancer. Most cancer foci are denser than normal glands, especially in the central part, which gradually fades outward and is submerged in the shadow of normal glands. The boundary with normal tissues is often difficult to determine, in which there is little or no adipose tissue. The infiltration form can be flaky, irregular or quasi-circular. The local pressure amplification spot film can show that the infiltration area is accompanied by burrs and tiny calcification. Including skin thickening or retraction, nipple depression, peritumoral edema, abnormal thickening of blood vessels, etc. In the late stage of the disease, nipple invagination often occurs, and local skin thickens or retracts. X-ray film shows that there is a cord-like or band-like dense shadow between the lump and nipple. Thickening of skin is most clearly displayed in tangential position, showing localized or diffuse thickening or retraction of tumor area, and there is a connection between skin and tumor. When you see nipple invagination, you should first ask about the medical history and rule out congenital changes and inflammatory sequelae.