Vascular lesions of the breast

Semin Diagn Pathol. 2017 Sep;34(5):410-419. doi: 10.1053/j.semdp.2017.05.013. Epub 2017 May 30.

Abstract

Vascular lesions of the breast comprise a heterogeneous group that includes a variety of benign, atypical, and malignant lesions. The presentation of these lesions ranges from those that are microscopic and discovered incidentally, to large tumors that may extensively involve the breast parenchyma and skin. In addition, some non-vascular breast lesions have features that may mimic those of vascular lesions and need to be distinguished from them in order to avoid an erroneous diagnosis. In this review, we discuss the spectrum of vascular lesions of the breast with particular emphasis on those lesions of greatest clinical importance, angiosarcoma and atypical vascular lesions. We also discuss lesions that may be mistaken for vascular lesions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Errors / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Hemangiosarcoma / pathology*
  • Hemangiosarcoma / therapy
  • Humans
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis

Supplementary concepts

  • Angiosarcoma of the breast