Beware it's benign: A unique case of concomitant benign breast pathologies

Area of Science:

• Breast imaging and pathology
• Benign breast lesions
• Diagnostic challenges in radiology

Background:

• Complex sclerosing lesions (CSL), also known as radial scars, are benign breast entities.
• Hamartomas are uncommon benign breast tumors comprising glandular, fibrous, and adipose tissues.
• Both CSL and hamartomas can present imaging challenges due to their potential resemblance to malignant lesions.

Observation:

• A case of concomitant CSL and hamartoma in the left breast is presented.
• The CSL component mimicked a suspicious mass on initial breast imaging.
• The hamartoma exhibited classical imaging characteristics for this benign tumor type.

Findings:

• Histopathological examination confirmed the benign nature of the CSL.
• The CSL demonstrated documented stability over a 4-year follow-up period.
• The coexistence of these two distinct benign entities was noted.

Implications:

• Recognizing the imaging features of both CSL and hamartoma is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• The potential for benign lesions to mimic malignancy underscores the importance of histopathological correlation.
• Long-term stability can support the benign diagnosis of complex sclerosing lesions.