Comprehensive Review of Clinical Presentation, Multimodality Imaging, and Therapeutic Strategies for Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Prompt and accurate diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) remains a clinical and radiological challenge due to overlapping features with benign inflammatory conditions such as mastitis. Because of the poor prognosis of this rare, locally advanced breast cancer, timely diagnosis by biopsy and imaging escalation is critical. IBC has a unique imaging presentation compared with noninflammatory breast cancer. Optimizing imaging test utilization is essential for early and accurate diagnosis of primary breast lesions as well as distant metastases, evaluating treatment response, and possibly minimizing unnecessary diagnostic testing.

Upon completing this activity, the reader should/should be able to

1. Recognize the clinical and imaging features of IBC.

2. Determine the optimal combination of imaging modalities for IBC evaluation and treatment response evaluation by understanding the strengths and limitations of each modality.

3. Have current knowledge of the standard-of-care multimodal treatment approach for IBC.

• Radiologists

• Related imaging professionals

Huong T. Le-Petross, MD, FRCPC, FSBI; Sadia Salem, MD; Megha Kapoor, MD; Susie Sun, MD; MD Anderson Inflammatory Breast Cancer Team; Wendy A. Woodward, MD, PhD

Affiliations: Department of Breast Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Le-Petross, Kapoor, MD Anderson Inflammatory Breast Cancer Team). Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Salem). Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Sun). Department of Breast Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Woodward).

None

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Institute for Advanced Medical Education (IAME) and Anderson Publishing. IAME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. IAME designates this activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

1. Review this article in its entirety.

2. Visit appliedradiology.org/SAM2.

3. Login or create an account.

4. Complete the post test and review the discussion and references.

5. Complete the evaluation.

6. Print your certificate.

1.5 hours

June 26, 2025

June 27, 2026

Planner: Erin Simon Schwartz, MD, discloses no relevant financial relationships with any ineligible companies.

Authors: The authors disclose no relevant financial relationships with any ineligible companies.

IAME has assessed conflicts of interest with its faculty, authors, editors, and any individuals who were in a position to control the content of this CME activity. Any relevant financial relationships were mitigated with an independent peer review of this activity, and no conflicts or commercial bias were detected. IAME’s planners, content reviewers, and editorial staff disclose no relationships with ineligible entities.