title: Fat necrosis of the breast: mammographic, sonographic, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging findings.
abstract: Fat necrosis of the breast is a benign inflammatory process that may be mistaken for cancer in clinical examination or imaging studies. Although its mammographic manifestations are well known, data from other imaging modes, particularly sonography and magnetic resonance imaging, are limited. With the growing number of breast surgeries performed today (eg, breast-conserving, autologous tissue reconstruction, mammoplasty), fat necrosis is seen more often in daily practice. Knowledge of its imaging features could improve clinical management, including the avoidance of unnecessary biopsy procedures. The main objectives of this article are to review the literature and to relate the manifestations of fat necrosis on mammography, sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography to their associated histopathologic events.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Radiologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (INRAD-HCFMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil. lucianochala@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Luciano Fernandes
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Chala
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Barros
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Camargo Moraes
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kátia Maciel
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pincerato
authors.forename: Filomena Marino
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Giovanni Guido
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cerri
mesh_terms: D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005218:Fat Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary