1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Dongkang General Hospital. 2Department of Pathology, Dongkang General Hospital. 3Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Ulsan University Hospital.
Published online: January 1, 2001.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the sonographic and mammographic findings of subcutaneous fat necrosis of the breast. MATERIALS and METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed ultrasonographic and mammographic findings of 10 patients with subcutaneous fat necrosis of the breast. Nine cases were confirmed by pathologic examination and one case was diagnosed by clinical and radiological findings. RESULTS: On sonography, all of 10 lesions showed abnormal findings confined to subcutaneous fat layer of the breast and they were classified into 2 patterns. The first pattern (n=4) was indistinct but smoothly marginated, homogeneous, hyperechoic oval mass with the largest dimension of 1.9cm on an average. The second pattern (n=6) was homogeneous, hyperechoic oval mass with the largest dimension of 3.1cm on an average, with internal hypoechoic area with the largest dimension of 0.5 cm on an average. The mammography of the former group showed no abnormal finding but the latter group showed oval or round, circumscribed radiopaque masses. The former group proved to be subcutaneous fat necrosis of the breast and the latter subcutaneous fat necrosis with internal hemorrhage on histologic examination. CONCLUSION: Early stage of subcutaneous fat necrosis of the breast with or without hemorrhage before chronic fibrotic or calcific changes showed relatively characteristic findings on sonography and mammography.
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