Angiolipoma of the Female Breast: Clinicomorphological Correlation of 52 Cases

Abstract

The authors analyzed 52 cases of female breast angiolipoma (AL). Age distribution was 25 to 80 years of age (56.81 ± 12.78). Most cases showed vascularity below 50%, and 14 cases had vascularity >50%. Cellular and low-vascularity ALs had different clinical and radiological presentations. The mean size was 7.00 ± 3.62 mm for cellular ALs and 19.61 ± 7.58 mm for low-vascularity ALs. In any paucicellular area, the authors could identify a cluster of at least 3 interconnected vessels. The endothelium was mostly flat with uniform, hyperchromatic nuclei, and mitoses and nucleoli were absent. Fibrin thrombi in proliferating capillaries were noted in 96% of cases. Low-vascularity AL can be reliably distinguished on needle core biopsy from other lipomatous and vascular tumors of the breast. Tortuosity and proliferation of capillaries with at least 3 interconnected capillary channels in 1 focus with associated fibrin thrombi constitute a very strong clue for the diagnosis of AL on a breast needle core biopsy. Definite diagnosis of cellular AL is not always feasible because of rare cases with mitotic activity and cellular atypia. Excision is often recommended for cellular AL.