What happened, in summary

A 53-year-old woman had a 9 mm spiculated mass detected at the 11 o’clock position of the left breast. Biopsy showed grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma that was ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2-negative.

She underwent lumpectomy with placement of a BioZorb marker. Sentinel-node biopsy was negative, and postoperative radiation followed. The treated breast was monitored with mammography every six months.

Two and a half years after surgery, surveillance imaging identified a new 1.8 cm circumscribed mass lateral and above the BioZorb implant at the 12 o’clock position. Because the mass was new and close to the prior cancer site, ultrasound-guided biopsy was recommended.

Pathology showed fat necrosis, and the benign result was considered consistent with the imaging findings. A six-month follow-up mammogram was recommended. Her experience reflects the diagnostic uncertainty that can arise when healing, fat necrosis, and device-related changes develop near a lumpectomy bed during routine breast-cancer surveillance.