Radiology, Vol 199, 105-108, Copyright © 1996 by Radiological Society of North America
Mammographic halo sign revisited
TE Cupples, GW Eklund and G Cardenosa
Susan G. Komen Breast Center, Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, IL 61614, USA.
PURPOSE: To determine whether increased silver halide deposition accounts
for some curvilinear areas of hyperlucency (halo signs) that surround
breast masses on screen-film mammograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast
images obtained in 43 women (aged 30-67 years; mean, 48.6 years) that
showed a halo sign were selected from the authors' teaching files. Optical
magnification (x8.0-12.5) of the masses with halos was used to establish
the pattern of silver halide deposition in the film emulsion. RESULTS: True
radiolucent halos, differentiated from Mach bands by means of the increased
silver halide deposition in the film emulsion, were identified in 44 masses
in 36 women. Partial true radiolucent halos were identified in 32 (73%) of
44 masses. Thirty- eight (86%) of the 44 masses were cysts; three (7%),
fibroadenomas; two (4%), infiltrating ductal carcinomas; and one (2%),
axillary lymph node metastasis. True radiolucent halos were more common in
growing benign and malignant lesions. CONCLUSION: A halo is not always a
perceptual illusion.
