Breast Fat Necrosis

Rare

In the past, most fat necrosis was seen after trauma, but now fat necrosis is commonly seen after fat injections to augment breast size or fill defects after breast surgery

Also occurs after breast surgery, segmental resection, radiation therapy, or postmastectomy flap reconstruction

Breast mass

Often associated with skin or nipple retraction

Usually indistinguishable from cancer even with imaging studies

Core needle biopsy usually adequate for diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

• Breast cancer

• Fibroadenoma

• Breast abscess

• Fibrocystic condition of breast

• Paget disease of the breast

If untreated, mass gradually disappears