What orientation is typical for benign breast masses on ultrasound?

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Multiple Choice

What orientation is typical for benign breast masses on ultrasound?

Explanation:
On ultrasound, how a mass sits in the breast tissue—its orientation—helps distinguish its growth pattern. Benign lesions typically grow along the plane of the tissue, forming an oval shape that is wider than it is tall when viewed in the transverse plane. This width-dominant, parallel orientation means the long axis runs side-to-side rather than front-to-back. Malignant lesions, by contrast, often invade across tissue planes and extend more in depth, producing a taller-than-wide appearance. Because the wider-than-tall pattern aligns with the common benign growth pattern, it is the characteristic orientation for benign breast masses.

On ultrasound, how a mass sits in the breast tissue—its orientation—helps distinguish its growth pattern. Benign lesions typically grow along the plane of the tissue, forming an oval shape that is wider than it is tall when viewed in the transverse plane. This width-dominant, parallel orientation means the long axis runs side-to-side rather than front-to-back. Malignant lesions, by contrast, often invade across tissue planes and extend more in depth, producing a taller-than-wide appearance. Because the wider-than-tall pattern aligns with the common benign growth pattern, it is the characteristic orientation for benign breast masses.

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