Gadolinium-enhanced MRI of breast hamartoma

Abstract

Hamartoma of the breast is a relatively rare, well-circumscribed benign breast tumour that lacks a true capsule, and is composed primarily of dense, fibrous tissue with associated ducts and a variable amount of fat. A typical mammographic finding is a well-delineated, non-homogeneous mass containing mottled densities corresponding to fat, epithelium and connective tissue. Ultrasonographically, hamartoma has a well-circumscribed heterogeneous internal echo pattern corresponding to areas of fat and soft tissue components. This is the first original paper to describe the MRI findings of hamartomas. Mammography and ultrasonography usually enable a diagnosis of hamartoma; however, gadolinium-DTPA enhanced dynamic MRI is the only method in the preoperative management of atypical hamartomas that allows the exclusion of malignancy elsewhere in the breast and hamartoma.