Pregnancy-lactation cycle: how to use imaging methods for breast evaluation

Abstract Pregnancy and lactation constitute states of intense hormonal variation with secretory and structural changes in the breast parenchyma. These changes translate into important features on breast imaging, as well as the emergence of specific benign and malignant lesions. This literature review aims to discuss the safety of the use of breast imaging methods (mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging) during the pregnancy-lactation cycle, and to present the expected physiological changes and imaging appearance of the main breast diseases that may occur in this period, such as galactocele, lactating adenoma, fibroadenoma, puerperal mastitis, and pregnancy-associated breast cancer.

摘要：妊娠与哺乳期属于激素水平剧烈波动的生理状态，乳腺实质可出现分泌性与结构性改变。此类改变不仅会在乳腺影像学检查中呈现出特征性表现，还可诱发特定的良性与恶性病变。本文献综述旨在探讨妊娠-哺乳周期内乳腺影像学检查手段（乳腺钼靶摄影（mammography）、超声检查（ultrasound）及磁共振成像（magnetic resonance imaging））应用的安全性，并阐述该时期可能发生的主要乳腺疾病的预期生理学改变与影像学特征，涵盖乳汁潴留囊肿（galactocele）、泌乳性腺瘤（lactating adenoma）、纤维腺瘤（fibroadenoma）、产褥期乳腺炎（puerperal mastitis）以及妊娠相关性乳腺癌（pregnancy-associated breast cancer）。