Rationale: The most common complications of vacuum-assisted removal (VAR) for benign breast masses are hematoma, infection, and occasionally pseudoaneurysms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a true aneurysm following VAR for breast fibroadenomas.
Case Presentation: A 50-year-old woman underwent VAR of bilateral benign breast masses under ultrasonic guidance. Routine breast ultrasound examination was performed 3 months later, and no discomfort was observed during follow-up.
Diagnoses and Interventions: Physical examination revealed a slightly palpable, arterial-like pulsation in the lateral part of the right breast. The two-dimensional ultrasound showed that there was a well-defined anechoic nodule in the right breast at the 9 o’clock position 3 cm from the nipple, measuring 6 mm × 4 mm. Color Doppler sonography demonstrated that it was a localized dilated intramammary arteriole within the colorful flow. Spectral Doppler illustrated a high-velocity turbulent arterial flow component inside. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with an iatrogenic true aneurysm of the breast. Given her overall good condition, conservative treatment with regular imaging surveillance was adopted.
Outcomes: Up to now, the patient remains asymptomatic, and the size of the aneurysm has not changed.
Lessons: With the increasing use of interventional diagnosis and treatment techniques, iatrogenic vascular complications are likely to occur more frequently. Careful duplex ultrasound examination prior to or following the procedure is strongly recommended. In the absence of risk factors, we recommend a conservative approach to small, stable aneurysms.
Keywords: ultrasound, breast, true aneurysm, conservative treatment