J Korean Soc Radiol.  2013 Dec;69(6):475-479.

Subcutaneous Cavernous and Capillary Hemangiomas of the Breast: Radiologic-Pathological Correlation

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea. taloo@hanmail.net
  • 2Department of Pathology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.

Abstract

Vascular tumors of the breast are uncommon and include hemangioma, angiolipoma, and angiosarcoma. Among breast hemangiomas, capillary hemangiomas are relatively rare in contrast to cavernous hemangiomas. We report two rare cases of cavernous and capillary hemangiomas of the breast by mammography, sonography, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography.


MeSH Terms

Angiolipoma
Breast*
Capillaries*
Electrons
Hemangioma
Hemangioma, Capillary*
Hemangioma, Cavernous
Hemangiosarcoma
Mammography

Figure

  • Fig. 1 An 80-year-old woman with cavernous hemangioma in left breast. A, B. Craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique mammograms show a well-circumscribed lobular isodense nodule at palpable site. C. Transverse sonography shows a well-circumscribed lobular hypoechoic nodule in subcutaneous fat layer. D. Microscopic examination reveals dilated vessels (arrow) congested with red blood cells (H&E stain, × 40). E. Numerous large vascular channels that share a common wall and lined with a single layer of endothelial cells (arrow) without any atypical cells, suggesting cavernous hemangioma (H&E stain, × 100).

  • Fig. 2 A 72-year-old woman with two capillary hemangiomas in right breast. A, B. The patient presented with a palpable mass in the right breast upper inner quadrant. Craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique mammograms show no abnormality at the palpable site. A partly obscured oval isodense nodule (arrows) was incidentally detected in the right breast upper outer quadrant. C. Transverse sonography of right upper outer breast shows a circumscribed oval hyperechoic nodule (arrows) in subcutaneous fat layer. D. Transverse sonography of right inner breast shows a palpable partly indistinct oval mixed isoechoic nodule (arrow) in subcutaneous fat layer. E. Nonfused CT image shows a partly ill-defined oval isodense nodule (arrow) in right upper outer breast. Another palpable nodule in right upper inner breast was invisible. F. Fused PET/CT image demonstrates no definite increased FDG uptake at nodule (arrow) in right upper outer breast. G. Excisional biopsy was also performed for two nodules. Microscopic examination of palpable nodule in right upper inner breast reveals infiltrative tumor (arrows) into adjacent adipose tissue (H&E stain, × 12.5). Another nonpalpable nodule had a similar microscopic feature (not shown in figure). H. It is composed of congested very small blood vessels that resemble capillaries (arrows), lined with a single layer of endothelial cells (H&E stain, × 400). Note.-FDG = fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose, PET/CT = positron emission tomography/computed tomography


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