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Fat necrosis is a rare lesion of the breast but is of clinical importance because it produces a mass (often accompanied by skin or nipple retraction) that is usually indistinguishable from carcinoma even with imaging studies. Fat necrosis can occur after trauma; after fat injections to augment breast size or fill defects after breast surgery; and after segmental resection, radiation therapy, or flap reconstruction following mastectomy.
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The resultant mass may be confused with cancer. If untreated, the mass gradually disappears. If imaging is not typical of fat necrosis, the safest course is to obtain a biopsy. Core needle biopsy is usually adequate.
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Ellis
LJ
et al. How should we manage women with fat necrosis following autologous breast reconstruction: an algorithmic approach. Breast J. 2020;26:711.
[PubMed: 31602711]
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Nakada
H
et al. Fat necrosis after breast-conserving oncoplastic surgery. Breast Cancer. 2019;26:125.
[PubMed: 30151780]