Fat necrosis of the breast: an unusual complication of lumpectomy and radiotherapy in breast cancer.

Fat necrosis is a well-recognised complication of trauma to the breast. It has also been described following breast surgery. In this report, we describe four patients who developed a small tender nodule following excision and radiotherapy for early breast cancer. These were in or near the excision scar. Histology of the resected nodules revealed fat necrosis with no evidence of recurrence. It is recommended that in all cases when a tender, inflamed nodule in or adjacent to the excision scar is found, a biopsy should be carried out to distinguish between this condition and recurrence.