Fact-sheet: Breast aneurysm
Updated on 03/30/2022 at 4:37 PM
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Definition
Breast aneurysm is a rare vascular condition, most cases being secondary to prior trauma, biopsy, or surgery such as lumpectomy or breast implant placement. A few cases have been reported following spontaneous hemorrhage due to coagulopathy or uncontrolled hypertension, and some are idiopathic with no underlying cause.
Clinical features
The aneurysm is usually asymptomatic, especially when small, but may present as a slowly enlarging palpable mass or skin changes, or as pain, particularly in the case of a pseudoaneurysm.
Ultrasound
Color Doppler ultrasound: hypoechoic lesion, +/- thrombosed, with swirling intra-aneurysmal flow.
MRI
Contrast-enhanced breast MRI with MIP reconstructions: may be used to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other breast masses.