Breast problems presenting in the emergency room.

A variety of breast complaints may present in the emergency setting. Therefore, the radiologist in the emergency department must be familiar with the pathology encountered and the associated imaging findings. While mammography is the most commonly and frequently used modality for breast imaging, in the emergency setting, ultrasound may be more readily available and better tolerated by the patient. This pictorial essay describes the spectrum of breast complaints encountered in the acute setting and the associated mammographic and sonographic findings.