Imaging features of common and uncommon lesions of the axilla: The breast radiologist's perspective

Evaluation of the axilla presents unique diagnostic challenges. It is only partially captured with the mammographic technique and is also an inadvertent mammographic “blind spot.” It may contain variable amounts of accessory breast tissue in addition to lymph nodes, vascular structures, nerves, and connective tissue. All neoplasms that occur in the breast may also occur in the axilla; therefore, the radiologist should be proficient in differential diagnosis and multimodality evaluation of axillary lesions.