Fat necrosis of the breast is a benign condition affecting women's breasts in which fatty tissue breaks down, causing localized inflammation and swelling. Treatment can involve complete excision of the necrotic area; alternatively, the necrotic area can be left to reabsorb on its own. The prognosis for women with this condition is excellent.
About Fat Necrosis
Fat necrosis is a rare condition that affects women's breasts. Although this is a totally benign condition, on examination it may resemble breast cancer; therefore, women with fat necrosis usually receive a thorough medical workup to rule out cancer, say Armando Giuliano and Sara Hurvitz in "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment."
Presentation and Diagnosis
A woman with fat necrosis will present with a hard, painful mass in her breast that may cause the surrounding skin to retract, say Fidel Valea and Vern Katz in "Comprehensive Gynecology." This mass may have appeared after a known trauma event or heavy physical exertion, or after surgery or radiation to the area. However, in some women, it may appear without a clear history of anything abnormal happening to the breast. Because this is also a common appearance of breast cancer, imaging -- usually with ultrasound -- and biopsy are frequently adjuncts to the clinical exam.
Treatment
If the decision is made prior to biopsy that the mass in question represents fat necrosis, it will usually disappear on its own over time. If an incomplete biopsy is performed that is consistent with fat necrosis, what remains of the mass may be left to disappear on its own as well. Alternatively, the physician doing the biopsy may choose to do a complete excisional biopsy, which, if it confirms that the lump was due to fat necrosis, serves both diagnostic and treatment purposes, as the entire mass will have been excised.
Prognosis
Prognosis for a woman with fat necrosis of the breast is very good. Since this is not a pathological condition, and it has no association with cancer, there is essentially no long-term risk to a woman who has experienced fat necrosis. According to the National Cancer Institute, about the only thing you might notice after your fat necrosis resolves is an area of residual lumpiness or scar tissue that may be surrounded by some slightly off-color skin where the fat necrosis used to be.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment"; Stephen J. McPhee and Maxine A. Papadakis (editors); 2009
- "Comprehensive Gynecology"; Vern Katz, Gretchen Lentz; Rogerio Lobo; David Gershensen; 2007
- National Cancer Institute: Fat Necrosis
