Multimodality Review of Imaging Features Following Breast Reduction Surgery

Reduction mammoplasty is a common surgical procedure that removes a significant portion of the breast, and the resulting changes to the breast parenchyma are frequently seen on breast imaging studies. Any radiologist who interprets breast imaging studies must be able to recognize these changes in order to avoid unnecessary recall from screening and/or breast biopsy. The surgical techniques used in reduction mammoplasty are discussed in order to provide relevant background information for understanding the resulting imaging features. These imaging characteristics are presented for the most common breast imaging modalities, including mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, tips for distinguishing malignancy from postsurgical change are provided, as are potential pitfalls in imaging interpretation. To avoid unnecessary patient morbidity, it is critical to differentiate between the classic, benign imaging appearance of the breast after reduction mammoplasty and findings that indicate a potential malignancy.