Lipofilling outcomes mimicking breast cancer recurrence: case report and update of the literature

Breast lipofilling uses autologous fat grqfling m correct breast defects afier radical m' conservative surgery. After early concern; regarding its application in reconstruction afire breast cancer (BC), in 2009 rhe American Society of Plastic Surgeons forrned a task force to assess the indications, safety and efficacy af autologous graft fat grafting. We report the case of a woman who came to our attention for a painful swelling off the left breast. She had undergone breast-comeruing therapy far BC, followed by lipofilling. The breast ultrasound ( US) examinatian showed diffuse structural alteration and multiple ipohecoic areas with acoustic shadowing, mainly localized in the subcutaneaus tissue. Afier pharnacological treatment and short term follow-up US examination, considering the persistence of rhe clinical symptoms and structural alteration we performed contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, thai showed multiple enhancing areas in the left breast. Suspecting local rumor recurrence, we carried out US-guided breast core—biopsy, whose histological examination documented liponecrosis. This observation raised a series of diagnostic and therapeutic issues highlighting the diagnostic pirfalls that the radiologist may encounter during the evaluation of patients who have undergone BC surgery and breast reconstruction through lipofilling.