Usefulness of intralesional contrast injection as a prebiopsy confirmation technique in a case of breast hemangioma

Abstract

Hemangiomas are uncommon benign vascular lesions of breast. They have nonspecific imaging features and can be isoechoic or hypoechoic or of heterogeneous echotexture in ultrasound (USG). When isoechoic, it may be difficult to identify these lesions with confidence against a fatty background. Here, we report such a case of a high-density lesion detected in screening mammogram, which was not so obvious in USG. We used the technique of intralesional contrast injection into the probable USG correlate for confirmation, before proceeding with the biopsy and establishing the diagnosis of hemangioma. Thus, this simple prebiopsy confirmation technique helps in identifying the definitive USG correlate, thereby facilitating a USG-guided biopsy. This is very useful, especially in the peripheral healthcare centers where stereotactic facility may not be available. Another learning point from this case is that in case of superficially located lesions that are readily visible in mammogram but less conspicuous in USG, the possibility of hemangioma can be considered in the differentials. This observation has been mentioned in other case reports as well and reiterated in our case. However, due to the nonspecific imaging features and low incidence, it is difficult to make diagnosis of hemangioma without tissue sampling. The imaging features of breast hemangioma in mammogram and ultrasound are reviewed and described in this case report with an emphasis on the role of intralesional contrast injection in lesion localization.