- The sonographic appearance of a normal lymph node:
- Is elliptical with a thin, hypoechoic cortex and an isoechoic to hyperechoic fatty hilum (Image)

- Metastatic carcinoma in a lymph node:
- Would usually have an asymmetric thick cortex or have near-total or total obliteration of the hilum:
- Resulting in a rounded, hypoechoic mass (Image)

- Axillary adenopathy can occur in association with rheumatoid arthritis:
- But the sonographic findings would usually be a symmetrical, mild thickening of the cortex:
- Usually with preservation of the hilum
- But the sonographic findings would usually be a symmetrical, mild thickening of the cortex:
- Silicone granulomas:
- Classically create a snowstorm appearance:
- Which allows a definitive diagnosis by ultrasound alone
- Classically create a snowstorm appearance:

- The mass in the image has a rounded anterior border and “dirty” incoherent shadowing that obscures the posterior border of the lesion:
- Nothing other than silicone can cause this sonographic appearance:
- But it is difficult to distinguish free silicone that has migrated to the axilla from a node that has been replaced with silicone
- Nothing other than silicone can cause this sonographic appearance:
- In different stages of development, silicone extravasation can also mimic complex cysts or fibrotic nodules, depending on the amount of silicone extravasated and the amount of time from extravasation:
- If a large amount of silicone is released into the tissue, the ultrasound pattern is that of a complex cyst
- Silicone’s presence in tissues can cause a local inflammatory reaction:
- Which may cause tissue fibrosis and a fibrotic nodule:
- This is a late finding seen following extravasating
- Which may cause tissue fibrosis and a fibrotic nodule:
- References:
- Berg WA, Caskey CI, Hamper UM, Anderson ND, Chang BW, Sheth S, et al. Diagnosing breast implant rupture with MR imaging, US, and mammography. Radiographics. 1993;13(6):1323-1336.
- Juanpere S, Perez E, Huc O, Motos N, Pont J, Pedraza S. Imaging of breast implants‒a pictorial review. Insights Imaging. 2011;2(6):653-670.
























