How do abscesses appear on imaging?

Many women cannot tolerate a mammogram when they have an acute abscess due to pain. If an abscess is suspected, ultrasound is a reasonable first test.
On ultrasound, an abscess can mimic breast cancer as an irregular, indistinct, heterogeneous mass with areas that appear cystic.
If mammography is done, they mimic breast cancer as an irregular, indistinct, equal density mass.