Fat necrosis of the breast: mammographic, sonographic, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging findings.
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.
Chala
Luciano Fernandes
LF
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
de Barros
Nestor
N
de Camargo Moraes
Paula
P
Endo
Erica
E
Kim
Su Jin
SJ
Pincerato
Kátia Maciel
KM
Carvalho
Filomena Marino
FM
Cerri
Giovanni Guido
GG
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