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Radiologic and Pathologic Correlation for Benign Breast Processes

  • Best Practice Approaches Breast Radiology-Pathology Correlation and Management (J Scheel and MR Kilgore, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Breast Cancer Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

A majority of breast biopsies show benign breast pathologies. This review will familiarize practicing radiologists with the spectrum of imaging findings associated with benign breast lesions, which can help radiologists avoid unnecessary biopsies and identify the need for repeat biopsy in the setting of radiologic-pathologic discordance.

Recent Findings

This review focuses on describing the most common imaging and pathologic findings as well as clinical management for benign breast pathology including fibrocystic changes, fibroadenomatoid changes and fibroadenoma, tubular adenoma, pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia, hamartomas, lactational changes, and superficial findings such as hemangiomas and epidermal inclusion cysts.

Summary

Benign breast pathologies represent a diagnostic challenge given the wide spectrum of imaging findings which may overlap with breast malignancy. This review focuses on understanding the radiologic and pathologic findings of benign breast processes.

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Author notes

  1. Hoiwan Cheung and Elizabeth U Parker contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Hoiwan Cheung & Diana L Lam

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Elizabeth U Parker & Mark R Kilgore

  3. Department of Radiology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Miao Yu

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  1. Hoiwan Cheung
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  2. Elizabeth U Parker
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  3. Miao Yu
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  4. Mark R Kilgore
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  5. Diana L Lam
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Correspondence to Diana L Lam.

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Cheung, H., Parker, E.U., Yu, M. et al. Radiologic and Pathologic Correlation for Benign Breast Processes. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 13, 381–397 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-021-00438-8

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