UCLA Radiological Sciences Proceedings

Venous malformations (VMs) are rare congenital vascular anomalies characterized by clusters of dilated veins that can occur in various locations, including the skin, muscles, and internal organs. It is uncommon for these anomalies to be initially identified and described through breast imaging. Most of the reported cases of VMs identified on breast imaging have been detected within the pectoralis muscle and breast parenchyma. We present a unique case of an axillary VM identified in an asymptomatic woman during routine breast imaging and argue that, because of the risks of operating on VMs, this case highlights the importance of considering VMs in the differential diagnosis of non-lymph node axillary lesions to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.