Breast hamartoma: ultrasound, elastosonographic, and mammographic features. Mini pictorial essay.

Abstract

Hamartomas, also known as fibroadenolipomas, are rare, benign formations that can develop in various organs, including the breast. They present clinically as a soft, mobile nodular lesions and are generally asymptomatic. They may be discovered incidentally during imaging studies performed for other reasons. Owing to the increasingly widespread use of mammographic screening, the diagnosis of breast hamartomas is on the rise. The masses are associated with specific mammographic and sonographic features that reflect their diverse tissue components. They also appear to present reproducible features on elastography. This article reviews the typical features of breast hamartomas seen on these three imaging modalities.