Large Hamartoma occupying the whole breast: Creates a Diagnostic Challenge

Abstract

Hamartoma is detected in the breast during screening of breast asymmetry or discovered pathologically in combination with other breast pathologies. Hamartoma should be considered one of the differential diagnoses of breast asymmetry, especially for young women, where mammogram is not frequently ordered or if the patient complains of significant breast asymmetry with no clearly evident breast mass by physical examination and normal breast ultrasound. Hamartoma is detected by mammogram as “'breast within a breast.” Ultrasound can diagnose small localized hamartoma and fine-needle aspiration or core needle biopsy of no significant help in diagnosis of isolated hamartoma not assonating with other pathologies. Mammogram and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are of great help in diagnosing hamartoma especially if it is large occupying the whole breast. Awareness of isolated hamartoma as a cause of breast asymmetry with the help of mammogram or MRI of the breast will lead to early diagnosis and treatment and avoid patient suffering of undiagnosed breast hamartoma.