What does sharply circumscribed mean?

Circumscribed: Well-defined margins with abrupt interface between mass and surrounding tissue. ≥ 75% of margin sharply defined on mammography. < 25% of margin may be obscured by overlying tissue.

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What does circumscribed mass mean?

A circumscribed mass is a mass with margins demonstrating a sharp demarcation between the lesion and surrounding tissue. On mammography, at least 75% of the margin must be well defined in order for the mass to qualify as circumscribed.

What does a mass with circumscribed margins mean?

As defined in the US lexicon (1), circumscribed margins are well defined or sharp, with an abrupt transition between the lesion and the surrounding tissue. Noncircumscribed margins encompass the remaining margin descriptors, including microlobulated, indistinct, angular, and spiculated.

Is a Microlobulated mass cancer?

Ultrasound masses are classified according to their shape and margin. Round or oval masses are benign when their margins are circumscribed (fibroadenoma, intramammary lymph node); on the other hand, with non-circumscribed margins (microlobulated or irregular), masses that are round or oval may be cancers.

Can a spiculated breast mass be benign?

Although a spiculated mass is thought of as a classic finding of malignancy on mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, its differential diagnosis includes benign lesions.

Can a circumscribed mass be malignant?

The likelihood of malignancy with a circumscribed mass is very low, but additional work-up may be necessary to verify that the margins are completely circumscribed. Typical examples of benign circumscribed masses are cysts (Figure 36f-5) and fibroadenomas (Figure 36f-6).

Is a circumscribed mass a cyst?

The typically benign masses in mammography are: circumscribed masses with macrocalcifications (fibroadenomas and calcified cysts); masses of fatty or mixed density; circumscribed masses corresponding to cysts in the sonography.

Can a circumscribed mass be cancer?

Circumscribed oval and round masses are usually benign. An irregular shape suggests a greater likelihood of malignancy.

Does indistinct margins mean cancer?

Benign masses are often round or oval with circumscribed margins. Malignant lesions tend to have irregular, indistinct, or spiculated margins. Malignancies tend to have density greater than that of the normal breast tissue.

What is a circumscribed nodule in breast?

A circumscribed mass in mammography is a mass where the contour is clearly defined along at least 75% of its surface. The remaining 25% may, at most, be masked by the adjacent gland. Circumscribed masses first indicate benign lesions.

What is a circumscribed mass?

The shapes of masses that are circumscribed may be round, oval, or lobular. The margination that is described as “circumscribed” allows one to visualize a fine, clear edge around the entire mass. Often masses that are circumscribed may be overlapped by parenchyma in some areas. These are described as obscured or partially circumscribed.

What is the likelihood of malignancy with a circumscribed mass?

What does circumscribed mean in a tumor?

Circumscribed oval and round masses are usually benign. An irregular shape suggests a greater likelihood of malignancy. The margins can be described as circumscribed, microlobulated, obscured (partially hidden by adjacent tissue), indistinct (ill-defined), or spiculated (characterized by lines radiating from the mass).

What does a large radiolucent mass with circumscribed margins mean?

There is a large radiolucent mass with circumscribed margins (arrows) projecting forward from the chest wall. The mass is associated with eggshell and lucent centered calcifications of fat necrosis. IMPRESSION: Lipoma with fat necrosis. NOTE: Lipomas may be associated with small areas of fat necrosis and dystrophic or eggshell calcifications.

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