title: Imaging Features Associated With Posttraumatic Breast Neuromas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to review the clinical and imaging features of patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of posttraumatic breast neuromas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report eight biopsy-proven posttraumatic neuromas in six patients with a history of breast surgery. Mammographic, sonographic, and breast MRI examinations were reviewed according to the BI-RADS lexicon. In addition, the tail sign, a specific sign known to be associated with neuromas in other parts of the body, was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mammographic, MRI, and sonographic examinations were performed in three, four and all six patients, respectively. The neuromas were occult on the three mammograms performed but all of them were identified on ultrasound as hypoechoic masses with parallel orientation; seven of the eight neuromas (87.5%) had an oval shape with circumscribed margins. Strain elastography performed for two patients (three neuromas) showed benign features (benign elasticity scores and fat-to-lesion ratio). Half of the masses showed a tail sign (focal thickening of the nerve adjacent to posttraumatic neuroma, similar to the dural tail sign). Of five lesions investigated by MRI, two were occult on MRI. The remaining three were visible as isointense foci on T1-weighted images, with a benign type 1 enhancement curve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients who underwent breast surgery, a mass with benign features raises the possibility of a neuroma. Although the tail sign was present in half of the posttraumatic neuromas, imaging-guided biopsy remains the standard of care.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Mc Gill University Health Center, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Pine Ave West, Montreal, PQ H3H 1A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Shaza
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: AlSharif
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Mc Gill University Health Center, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Pine Ave West, Montreal, PQ H3H 1A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Romuald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Pathology, McGill University Health Center, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, PQ, Canada.
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omeroglu
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montreal, Hotel-Dieu de Montreal, Montréal, PQ, Canada.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Khoury
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Mc Gill University Health Center, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Pine Ave West, Montreal, PQ H3H 1A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mesurolle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009463:Neuroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
keywords: MRI; biopsy; breast; mammogram; neuroma; posttraumatic neuroma; surgery; traumatic neuroma; ultrasound