[Breast hematoma and cytosteatonecrosis. Apropos of 55 cases]

The authors report a retrospective study of 55 cases, 34 hematomas and 21 cytosteatonecrosis (CSN) of the breast, during 15 years. The mammary hematoma can appear with an encapsuled or diffused form, or in 40% of cases without radiographic model. The diagnosis of CSN, is easy, such as ringed, macrocalcified, or oil cystic, but when it is the case of solid cicatriciel mass, it is difficult to distinguish it from mammary carcinoma, in approximatively half of the cases. The etiopathogenic discussion, display, traumatic features, ischemic cellular disease, such as mammary infarct, inflammatory lesions, duct ectasia, anticoagulant drugs, needle aspiration... Even though nodular lesion may be a carcinoma, a very suggestive lesion with spicules and skin retraction may be benign. The follow up, or histological examination by biopsie or surgery, is always essential.