Diagnosis of inflammatory carcinoma

Inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) is a rapidly progressing process with a poor prognosis. The clinical image of the inflammatory changes accompanying this disease is crucial for its diagnosis. It is usually not a limited palpable tumor, but at the time of diagnosis, regional lymph nodes are already affected with lymphedema, which is caused by tumor embolization of cutaneous lymphatic vessels.The first examination in IBC management to be performed is mammography (MMG) supplemented by ultrasonography (USG). These imaging methods not only provide evidence to support the diagnosis of IBC, but can also detect a primary tumor and assess the locoregional spread or the presence of pathological lymph nodes. Early diagnosis increases the median survival of patients because it is essential for choosing the right multimodal treatment that improves treatment outcomes. This paper summarizes the main features of IBC in imaging modalities demonstrated in case studies from practice. (author)