Hemangioma of the Breast
Definition
- Benign vascular lesion of the breast large enough to be detected clinically
Alternate/Historical Names
- Atypical hemangioma
- Capillary hemangioma
- Cavernous hemangioma
- Venous hemangioma
Diagnostic Criteria
- By definition, detectable by palpation or mammography
- Rarely over 2 cm
- Grossly circumscribed
- May merge microscopically with surrounding tissue
- Does not invade and destroy lobules
- Most are cavernous
- Less frequently capillary type
- Anastomoses infrequent, not complex
- Fibrous septa divide lesion into lobules
- Stroma may calcify
- Large feeder vessels may be seen at periphery
- Atypical hemangioma has features as above but with:
- Increased anastomoses, or
- Cytologic atypia
- Venous hemangioma
- Dilated channels
- Walls contain smooth muscle at least partially
- May be considered a vascular malformation
- Complete excision and examination is required for the diagnosis of any benign vascular lesion in the breast
Richard L Kempson MD
Robert V Rouse MD
Department of Pathology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford CA 94305-5342
Original posting:: May 27, 2006