Objective:

To investigate the grayscale ultrasound

color Doppler ultrasound and elastography features of encapsu-lated papillary carcinoma of the breast (EPC).

Methods:

The sonographic features of twenty-six cases of EPC proved by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.

Results:

Twenty-two lesions were cystic-solid mixed masses. Five were predominantly cystic com-plex masses

and ten were complex masses with almost equivalent cystic and solid components

and seven were predominantly solid complex masses. Four were solid masses. Fourteen lesions were isoechoic

and nine were slightly hypo

echoic

and three were hy-poechoic. Twenty lesions were homogenous

and six were heterogeneous. Twenty-two lesions were regular

and four were irregular. Microcalcifications were found in two lesions

and macrocalcification was found in one lesion. Internal echoes were found in thirteen cystic-solid mixed lesions. Hypervascularity

isovascularity

and hypovascularity were found in 17

7

and 2 masses respectively. Elastography was performed in 17 masses and the elasticity score was 2 in 7 masses

3 in 3 masses

and 4 in 7 masses. Red yellow stripes were found in four lesions with elasticity score 2. Twenty-three masses were diagnosed as probably or suspiciously malignant.

Conclusion:

The sonographic appearances of EPC were various. Conventional ultrasonography and elastography are useful for pre-dicting the malignancy of EPC.