Case: Simple Cyst, Clustered Microcysts, Complicated Cyst

by Madhu Joshi, MD, Fadi Dahoud, and Reza Fardanesh, MD

Introduction

The Terminal Ductal Lobular Unit.

Breast cysts are common fluid-filled sacs that develop within breast tissue and typically arise along the terminal duct lobular unit. The exact cause of simple breast cysts is unknown; however, they likely develop in response to hormonal changes in the breast which can occur in the pre-, peri-, or post-menopausal period. Physiologically, distension of the tubule or obstruction along its course causes fluid to accumulate and eventually evolves into a sac-like structure that becomes a cyst.

Simple Cyst

Simple breast cysts are benign, fluid-filled lesions that do not have malignant potential. Simple cysts have characteristic features on mammography and ultrasound that allow definitive diagnosis.

Ultrasound - Ultrasound is a particularly useful modality to evaluate breast cysts due to its ability to differentiate fluid-filled cysts from solid masses. Simple cysts appears as well-circumscribed, anechoic, round or oval structures, with thin walls that demonstrate posterior acoustic enhancement. Simple cysts can often be moved or compressed with the ultrasound probe which can help distinguish cysts from solid masses, which are usually immobile. Additionally, simple cysts do not exhibit vascularity nor contain internal echoes or solid components.

Figure 1A shows a round, well-circumscribed, thin-walled lesion with posterior acoustic enhancement reflect typical imaging features of a simple cyst (red arrow). Figure 1B indicates that the lesion does not exhibit vascularity with color Doppler. Figures 1C and 1D show an additional example of an anechoic lesion with distinct margins, posterior acoustic enhancement and no vascularity, compatible with a simple cyst.

Mammography - Mammography often plays a complementary role in the assessment of simple breast cysts. They typically appear as well-circumscribed, oval or round, low density masses on mammogram. The density is often similar to that of surrounding fibroglandular tissue and background parenchymal elements are often discernible through the mass. Absence of associated microcalcifications and architectural distortion are additional reassuring features in differentiating a cyst from a solid mass.

Figure 2A and 2B show CC and MLO views (respectively) of a right breast with a well circumscribed, oval, low-density mass in the right breast at 6 o’clock, middle depth. Background fibroglandular elements are visualized through the mass without evidence of calcifications or architectural distortion.

Clustered Microcyst

Clustered microcysts are an additional form of benign, fibrocystic changes that can develop in the breast. They are often encountered in peri-menopausal women which is thought to be due to prolonged exposure to progesterone as the menstrual cycle shortens.

Ultrasound - On ultrasound, clustered microcysts display features similar to simple breast They typically appear as a group of small (2-3 mm) anechoic foci with thin (<0.5 mm) intervening septa and without a discrete solid component. Clustered microcysts also demonstrate posterior acoustic enhancement, similar to simple cysts. The margins of a clustered microcyst may be microlobulated but are well-defined.

Figure 3A demonstrates a cluster of anechoic sac-like cysts with thin hyperechoic, intervening septa (green arrow). Figure 3B shows the lesion exhibits posterior acoustic enhancement (blue arrow) indicating a fluid-filled lesion. Figure 3C illustrates that the lesion is avascular on color Doppler. Note that the margins of the microcyst are lobular, yet distinct (orange arrows).

Mammography - On mammography, clustered microcysts can appear as a focal round or oval mass with distinct margins that may be microlobulated. Similar to simple cysts, they can appear as relatively low-density lesions that allow background structures to be visualized through the mass. Calcifications may be present, which often reflect sediment/milk of calcium, however, they typically do not distort the surrounding parenchyma or cause architectural distortion. They may also appear an asymmetry or focal asymmetry or simply as a group of calcifications, which would warrant further evaluation with ultrasound.

Figure 4A demonstrates a group of microcalcifications in the left breast. Additional views in Figure 4B in ML spot compression which show a curvilinear distribution of the calcifications that subsequently change orientation and become more “smudged” on CC spot compression views in Figure 4C due to the calcifications being viewed en fosse. This phenomenon demonstrates layering calcifications that a typical of benign, milk of calcium sediment. Additional evaluation with ultrasound on the same patient revealed a simple clustered microcyst in the region of interest as seen in Figures 4D and 4E. Note the calcifications are not always visible on ultrasound.

Complicated Cyst

Complicated cysts are “probably benign” lesions as they contain internal debris which may mimic a solid mass appearance on imaging. The internal debris typically represents proteinaceous or hemorrhagic material which needs to be carefully evaluated in order to differentiate a complicated cyst from a complex cyst, which have malignant potential. Management of complicated cysts is dependent on the degree of suspicion and can either be closely followed with short-term interval imaging or undergo aspiration and/or biopsy for definitive diagnosis.

Ultrasound - On ultrasound, complicated cysts appear as round or oval lesions with thin walls, homogeneously hypoechoic internal debris, and may exhibit fluid-debris levels and low-level internal echoes that can change the shape of the cyst with changes in patient positioning. The internal debris may appear as hyperechoic components that adhere to the cyst wall and careful examination with power Doppler should be performed to exclude vascularity which would indicate a solid component. Complicated cysts may or may not exhibit posterior acoustic enhancement depending on the make-up of its internal components. The walls of a complicated cyst are often slightly thicker than that of simple cysts due to inflammation or mild fibrosis which can occur due to the internal proteinaceous or hemorrhagic components.

Figure 5A shows an oval lesion with fluid-debris level (blue arrow) that shifts with patient positioning (yellow arrow) in Figure 5B. There is an adjacent simple cyst (green arrow). Figure 5C demonstrates that the cyst does not exhibit vascularity within the hyperechoic debris components (orange arrow) confirming that there are no solid components.

Mammography - Complicated cysts appear as well-circumscribed round, oval or slightly lobular, relatively low-density masses which may exhibit milk of calcium (layering) and rarely rim calcification.

Figure 6A and 6B shows CC and MLO, respectively, spot compression views of a well-defined oval mass in the right breast at 10 o’clock without microcalcification or associated architectural distortion. Figure 6C shows subsequent evaluation with ultrasound in the same patient where there is a small, well-defined hypoechoic lesion with some internal low-level echoes and without vascularity (Figure 6D).

References:

1. Greenwood HI, Lee AY, Lobach IV, Carpentier BM, Freimanis RI, Strachowski LM. "Clustered Microcysts on Breast Ultrasound: What Is an Appropriate Management Recommendation?" AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2017 Dec;209(6):W395-W399. DOI: 10.2214/AJR.17.17813(Link is external) (Link opens in new window). 
2. Hines N, Slanetz PJ, Eisenberg RL. "Cystic Masses of the Breast." AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2010 Feb;194(2):W122-33. DOI: 10.2214/AJR.09.3688(Link is external) (Link opens in new window).
3. Berg WA, Campassi CI, Ioffe OB. "Cystic Lesions of the Breast: Sonographic-pathologic Correlation." Radiology. 2003 Apr;227(1):183-91. DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2272020660(Link is external) (Link opens in new window).