Abstract
Blunt trauma to the female breast following motor vehicle collisions is being seen with increasing frequency. The injury mechanism is typically restraint-related with deceleration forces leading either to crush injury or to shearing injury within the breast or between the breast and the chest wall. Bleeding from perforating branches of the intercostal vessels can cause hematoma formation. Breast trauma may result in mammographic abnormalities, which should be followed to resolution. In addition, the author's data suggests that breast trauma is a marker for significant underlying torso injury. (Author/publisher)