Imaging of Breast Hamartoma on Mammography, Ultrasound and MRI.

Hamartoma or fibroadenolipomas are rare benign tumours. These tumours present as painless, mobile masses or it can be asymptomatic and detected incidentally on screening mammogram. This article intends to review the characteristic findings of breast hamartoma on mammography, tomosynthesis, ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques. Multiparametric MRI is a sensitive non invasive modality for diagnosis of these masses. There is a need to evaluate the characteristic imaging features of hamartoma in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Most of the patients with breast hamartomas are young patients so we can avoid the radiation based imaging techniques. MRI can be used in the uncertain cases of hamartoma on mammography and ultrasound. Advanced MRI techniques e.g., Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) with mean ADC calculation and MR Sepctroscopy (MRS) are useful non-invasive techniques which can be used for effective diagnosis and can avoid biopsy in these patients. Pathologically, a distinctive appearance lacks in these masses as these consists of lactiferous tissue, fat and fibrous tissue. Clinical finding of breast lump or breast asymmetry and imaging features are helpful in the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]