Skip to main content
Download PDF

Radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions of the breast: radiologic and clinicopathologic correlation

BMC Medical Imaging volume 18, Article number: 39 (2018) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

We investigated the radiologic and clinical findings of radial scar and complex sclerosing lesions, and evaluated the rate of pathologic upgrade and predicting factors.

Methods

From review of our institution’s database from January 2006 to December 2012, we enrolled 82 radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions in 80 women; 51 by ultrasound guided core needle biopsy, 1 by mammography-guided stereotactic biopsy, and 38 by surgical excision. The initial biopsy pathology revealed that 53 lesions were without high risk lesions and 29 were with high risk lesions. Radiologic, clinical and pathological results were analyzed statistically and upgrade rates were calculated.

Results

Of the 82 lesions, 64 (78.0%) were surgically excised. After surgical excision, two were upgraded to DCIS and two were upgraded to lesions with high risk lesions. The rate of radial scar with high risk lesions was significantly higher in the surgical excision group (11.1% vs. 42.2%, p = 0.015), which also demonstrated larger lesion size (10.7 ± 6.5 vs. 7.1 ± 2.6 mm, p = 0.001). The diagnoses with high risk lesions on final pathological results showed older age (52.9 ± 6.0 years vs. 48.4 ± 6.7 years, p = 0.018).

Conclusions

Radial scars with and without high risk lesions showed no statistically significant differences in imaging, and gave relatively low cancer upgrade rates.

Peer Review reports

Background

Radial scar is characterized by stellate configuration of a fibroelastic core with entrapped ducts and lobules, and is also referred to as complex sclerosing lesion (CSL) [1]. Radial scar/CSL is diagnosed at image-guided biopsy with an incidence ranging from 0.6 to 3.7% [2, 3]. Despite being uncommon, radial scars remain important in patient management because their radiologic appearance overlaps that of invasive carcinoma and their diagnosis is challenging for radiologists [4], with the potential to be misinterpreted by pathologists as low grade invasive ductal or tubular carcinoma [5]. Radial scars can be indistinguishable from invasive carcinoma on radiologic appearance alone, often presenting as a spiculated mass or architectural distortion [6, 7]. Once diagnosis has been made with core biopsy, management is controversial because of the intrinsic malignant potential of radial scars and their coexistence with breast cancer and other high risk lesions. Radial scar is one of the proliferative categories that can coexist alongside other proliferative high risk lesions, including atypia, with each contributing to the overall upgrade rate to malignancy at excision [8,9,10]. As both radiology and pathology are imperfect for predicting associated malignancy, the prudence of surgical excision versus conservative management remains debatable.

Radial scar/CSL is associated with atypical proliferative lesions and has been suggested as early stage development of invasive carcinoma. The radiologically detected radial scar associated malignancy rate ranged from 10.0 to 41.0% on excision [11]. However, recent studies with carefully performed correlations between radiological and pathology findings suggest that upgrade to carcinoma on core biopsy occurs in less than 2.0% [12,13,14,15]. Furthermore, most of the lesions upgraded from radial scar are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or low grade ductal or tubular type [12, 13, 15]. The short-term follow-up of radial scars that were not excised has shown no upgrades [13, 15,16,17,18]. Thus, some insist that a subset of patients with radial scars may safely forego excision, especially in the absence of coexisting high risk lesions or other indications for excision [14, 18]. Miller et al. [15] reported an upgrade rate to invasive carcinoma of less than 1% at surgical excision of radial scar, with or without associated high risk lesions, and also revealed that the radiologic appearances of a mass or architectural distortion on mammography or ultrasound (US) are more likely to be upgraded than calcifications. Brenner et al. [16] conducted a study on one of the largest cohorts and reported an upgrade rate of 5% from a median 38 months of follow-up or by surgery, and suggested that excision of radial scar can be avoided when there is no high risk lesion on core biopsy, more than 12 biopsy specimens have been collected, and the histologic and mammographic findings are concordant. With regard to MRI of radial scar, MRI has a 97.6–100.0% negative predictive value for differentiating between benign and malignant radial scar lesions [19,20,21,22,23]. With the emergence of digital breast tomosynthesis, increased screening examinations, and advanced MRI, many biopsies are now performed on lesions in their earlier stages and with a smaller size, and an increasing number of mammographically occult radial scars have been detected by US, with 15.7% to 39.0% of radial scars without atypia being diagnosed [2, 24, 25]. The objective of this study was to evaluate patients with radial scar/CSL with or without high risk lesions according to management strategy such as surgical excision or follow-up of at least 5 years, comparing associated malignancy, and to identify clinical, radiologic (mammography, US, and MRI), and pathologic features predictive of upgrade.

Methods

Study population

Our institutional review board approved this retrospective study, and the requirement for informed consent was waived. The database of our institution was retrospectively reviewed for image-guided biopsy and breast surgery occurring between January 2006 to December 2012 to identify patients with a diagnosis of radial scar/CSL with or without high risk lesions (i.e., atypical epithelial hyperplasia, lobular neoplasia, papilloma, or atypical papilloma). Radial scar was defined as a lesion of 1.0 cm or smaller, while CSL was defined as a lesion larger than 1.0 cm. We excluded patients who were initially diagnosed with ipsilateral breast cancer or those who were followed-up for a period of less than 5 years without having undergone surgery. Finally, we enrolled 82 radial scars/CSLs in 80 women; 51 were diagnosed by US-guided core needle biopsy, one by mammography-guided stereotactic biopsy, and 38 by surgical excision.

At initial diagnosis, 53 of the lesions were considered to be without high risk lesions and 29 lesions were considered as being accompanied by high risk lesions. Of the 53 radial scars/CSLs without high risk lesions, 37 lesions (69.8%) were surgically excised and 16 lesions (30.2%) were not excised but underwent imaging follow-up of at least 5 years. Of the 29 radial scars/CSLs with high risk lesions (15 atypical epithelial hyperplasia, 7 atypically papilloma, 7 papilloma), 27 lesions (93.1%) were surgically excised and two lesions (6.9%) were not excised but underwent imaging follow-up.

We recorded whether lesions were detected during screening or diagnostic examination, and whether patients were asymptomatic or symptomatic.

An upgrade was defined as occurring when the surgical pathology was changed from 1) a lesion without high risk to a high risk lesion, DCIS, or invasive carcinoma, and 2) from lesions with high risk to DCIS or invasive carcinoma.

Imaging technique and biopsy methods

Mammography was performed using a full-field digital mammogram unit (Senographe DS or Senographe Essential scanner, both from Generic Electric Medical System, Milwaukee, WI, USA). Two standard imaging planes were used, the mediolateral oblique and craniocaudal views.

Whole-breast US was performed using an IU22 unit (Philips Medical System, Bothell, WA, USA) equipped with a 50 mm linear array transducer with a bandwidth of 5–12 MHz. At our institution, the scanning technique for bilateral whole-breast US is standardized as follows: scanning is performed in a transverse and sagittal orientation, with the inner breast in a supine position and the outer breast in a supine oblique position with the patient’s arm raised above her head. The pectoralis muscle has to be seen on all images to ensure that the entire breast is examined. Each lesion is documented with an image of its longest dimension and an orthogonal measurement.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was performed on a 1.5 T scanner (Magnetom Avanto, Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) using a dedicated 18-channel phased-array breast coil. The standard breast MRI protocol included the following pulse sequences: 1) an axial two-dimensional T2-weighted short tau inversion recovery (STIR) turbo spin-echo pulse sequence (repetition time/echo time/time interval (TR/TE/TI), 6700/74/150 ms; field of view (FOV) 300 × 300 mm; matrix size, 448 × 448; slice thickness, 5 mm); 2) pre and post-contrast-enhanced fat-saturated axial three-dimensional T1-weighted fast low angle shot volume interpolated breath-hold examination (FLASH VIBE) pulse sequences (TR/TE, 5.2/2.4 ms; FOV 340 × 340 mm; matrix size, 384 × 384; slice thickness, 0.9 mm). The six dynamic sequences (one unenhanced and five contrast-enhanced acquisitions with a temporal resolution of 59 s) were acquired before and after injection of contrast medium.

US-guided core needle biopsy was performed with a 14-gauge dual action semi-automatic core biopsy needle (Stericut with coaxial guide, TSK Laboratory, Tochigi, Japan), and a minimum of five core samples were obtained. Biopsies of mammographic findings such as asymmetry, architectural distortions, and calcifications without a corresponding US finding were performed with a stereotactic technique involving 11-gauge vacuum probes (Mammotome; Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH) on an upright stereotactic digital unit, using a Senographe Essential stereotaxic machine (General Electric Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI).

All surgical excision was performed after US or mammography-guided wire localization, with specimen mammography being performed in cases of mammography-guided wire localization.

Analysis of imaging findings

Mammography, US, and MRI were retrospectively reviewed (without regard to the initial clinical reporting) by two radiologists with 6 and 17 years of clinical experience in breast imaging, respectively. Each radiologist was blind to the readings of the other radiologist. When a discrepancy occurred, the two radiologists reviewed the case together and reached a consensus. Imaging features were described and assessed according to the American College of Radiology (ACR) BI-RADS 5th edition [26].

On mammography, lesions were classified into mass, calcification, mass with calcification, architectural distortion, architectural distortion with calcification, and asymmetry. For a mass, the shape was described as oval, round, or irregular, and the margin as circumscribed, obscured, microlobulated, indistinct, or spiculated. For calcifications, the distribution was analyzed as diffuse, regional, grouped, linear, or segmental, and the morphology as amorphous, coarse heterogeneous, fine pleomorphic, or punctate.

On US, the shape of each mass was described as oval, round, or irregular; the orientation as parallel or non-parallel; the margin as circumscribed, indistinct, angular, microlobulated, or spiculated; and the echo pattern as anechoic, hyperechoic, complex cystic and solid, hypoechoic, isoechoic, or heterogeneous. Posterior features were classified as no posterior feature, posterior enhancement, posterior shadowing, or a combination. The visibility of any calcification on US was also assessed.

On breast MRI for mass lesions, the margins were described as circumscribed, irregular, or spiculated, and the shape as oval, round, or irregular. The internal enhancement of each mass was classified as homogeneous, heterogeneous, rim, or dark internal septation enhancement. For non-mass lesions, the distributions were described as focal, linear, segmental, regional, multiple regions, or diffuse, while the pattern of enhancement was classified as homogeneous, heterogeneous, clumped, or clustered ring. The enhancement kinetic curve was described as Type 1 (persistent enhancement), Type 2 (plateau), or Type 3 (peak early enhancement followed by delayed washout).

Statistical analysis

The characteristics of the patients and findings of the lesions, including upgrade rates, are summarized using number and percentage. Clinical characteristics and imaging findings were compared between lesions that underwent surgical excision (n = 64) and lesions that underwent follow-up (n = 18), with Student’s t-tests being used for continuous variables and χ2 tests for categorical variables. Lesions were also grouped according to the final pathological diagnosis (performed by surgical excision or follow-up of at least 5 years) as radial scar without high risk lesions (n = 49) or radial scar with high risk lesions (n = 33), and were compared using Student’s t-test or a Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables, and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. Calculations for statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (version 23.0, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference between groups.

Results

Of the 82 lesions, 64 (78.0%) were surgically excised and 18 (22.0%) were not excised (Fig. 1). During the 5-year follow-up of the non-excised 18 lesions, there was no imaging or clinical change suggestive of an upgrade. However, two DCIS lesions (3.1%) were identified among 64 lesions that were surgically excised. In comparison with the follow-up group, the surgical excision group had a significantly higher percentage of radial scars/CSLs with high risk lesions (11.1% vs. 42.2%, p = 0.015) and contained lesions with a larger mean size (7.1 ± 2.6 mm vs. 10.7 ± 6.5 mm, p = 0.001). There were more patients with a contralateral breast malignancy such as invasive ductal cancer (n = 7, 70.0%), DCIS (n = 1, 10.0%), or tubular carcinoma (n = 2, 20.0%) in the operated-on group, but not statistically significant (p = 0.576) and were mostly screen detected without symptoms in both groups (100% and 92.2%, p = 0.581).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Outcomes of Radial Scar/Complex Sclerosing Lesions Diagnosed by 5-Year Follow-up and Surgery

Full size image

Out of all the 82 lesions in 80 patients, mammography was performed on 73 (89.0%), US on 82 (100.0%), and MRI on 13 (15.9%). Analysis of the imaging findings from mammography, US, and MRI, including the BI-RADS category, revealed no statistically significant differences between the surgical excision and follow-up groups. In both groups, masses on mammography (eleven mass only and six mass with calcification) had a mostly irregular shape (14/17, 82.4%), spiculated margin (10/17, 58.8%), and were hyperdense (10/17, 58.8%), while calcifications (four calcification only, six mass with calcification, and three architectural distortion with calcification) had a predominantly amorphous morphology (8/13, 61.5%) with regional (7/13, 53.8%) distribution. One lesion manifested as an architectural distortion only, and one as an asymmetry on mammography. On US, 79 lesions were seen as masses. Masses had mostly irregular shape (52/79, 65.8%), indistinct margin (34/79, 43.0%), and hypoechogenicity (69/79, 87.3%), without associated posterior features (62/79, 78.5%) or calcification (76/79, 96.2%). On MRI performed on thirteen lesions, six lesions (46.2%) were not seen, six lesions (46.2%) manifested as mass, and one lesion (7.6%) as non-mass enhancement. Six masses were irregular (3/6, 50%) with irregular margin (4/6, 66.7%) homogeneous enhancement (5/6, 83.3%) and showed Type 3 kinetic curve (5/6, 83.3%), and one non-mass lesion showed regional, homogeneous enhancement with Type 3 kinetic curve.

In the comparison between radial scars/CSLs with and without high risk lesions on final pathological results (Table 1), there was a greater mean age in the group with high risk lesions (52.9 ± 6.0 years; range, 33–62 years vs. 48.4 ± 6.7 years; range, 38–63 years, p = 0.018). There were no differences in lesion size (9.8 ± 5.9 mm vs. 10.0 ± 6.2 mm, p = 0.887), symptoms (p = 0.643), or associated malignancy in the contralateral breast (p = 0.717), and the findings of mammography, US and MRI (Additional file 1: Table S1).

Table 1 Comparisons between Radial Scars/Complex Sclerosing Lesions with and without High Risk Lesions on Final Pathological Results
Full size table

Four cases (4.8%, 4/82) that were detected on the screening examination and diagnosed as radial scars/CSLs without high risk lesions on core needle biopsy were upgraded to high risk (n = 2) or DCIS (n = 2) after surgical excision (Table 2). The two lesions (size 1.0 cm and 1.9 cm) that were upgraded to DCIS were both occult on mammography and seen as hypoechoic masses on US, with one of these lesions appearing as non-mass enhancement with Type 3 kinetic curve on MRI (Fig. 2). The two lesions (size 5 mm and 8 mm) that were upgraded to high risk lesions (atypical ductal hyperplasia and atypical papilloma, respectively) were both hypoechoic masses on US (Fig. 3).

Table 2 Clinical, Radiologic, and Pathologic Data of those Radial Scars/Complex Sclerosing Lesions Upgraded after Excision
Full size table
Fig. 2
figure 2

A radial scar on ultrasound guided core needle biopsy and upgraded to radial scar with atypical ductal hyperplasia after surgical excision. a On mammography, there is an irregular, indistinct, hyperdense mass (arrow). b On ultrasound, there is an irregular, non-parallel, angular, hypoechoic mass

Full size image
Fig. 3
figure 3

A radial scar on ultrasound- guided core needle biopsy and upgraded to ductal carcinoma in situ after surgical excision. Ultrasound shows an irregular, non-parallel, indistinct, and hypoechoic mass

Full size image

Discussion

The radial scar manifests as an architectural distortion with long thin spicules radiating from an often radiolucent central area [27]. This spiculated radiologic finding mimics malignancy and is difficult to differentiate from tubular carcinoma [28], and surgical excision has been generally recommended [29, 30]. Linda et al. agreed that the mammographic and US features of lesions diagnosed as radial scars are not predictive of the absence or presence of associated malignancy [2]. In our study, we also failed to find any radiologic features helpful for differentiating between radial scar/CSLs with and without associated high risk lesions or malignancy.

Reported upgrade rates after surgical excision have ranged from 0.0 to 40.0% because of heterogeneous study populations; a mixture of isolated radial scar with or without atypia, core and surgical excision biopsies, small sample sizes, and no comparisons between who did and did not undergo surgery [18]. Without there being any established malignancy upgrade rates or malignancy expectancy, a 2011 survey of practicing breast surgeons showed that 76.0% would recommend surgery for radial scar/CSL diagnosed on needle biopsy [31]. Similar surveys of radiologists performed at the American Roentgen Ray Society annual meetings in 2010 and 2011 showed that most radiologists would recommend surgical excision, with rates of 89.0% and 73.0%, respectively [32]. However, recent studies with careful correlations between radiology and pathology suggest that upgrade to carcinoma occurs in less than 2.0%, and advocate imaging follow-up rather than surgical excision for radial scars without high risk lesions [12,13,14,15]. Moreover, Park et al. recently reported 0.0% upgrade rate to high risk lesions or malignancy in mammographically occult radial scar/CSL diagnosed by biopsy in asymptomatic patients [33]. At the excision of both mammographically evident and occult lesions, the malignancies associated with radial scars are frequently low- or intermediate-grade DCIS, or grade 1 or 2 invasive carcinoma [2, 24, 25]. Invasive cancers in radial scars are low grade, and their biological profiles (positivity for estrogen and progesterone receptors, low proliferative index) are favorable [34]. Similarly, in our study in which 3.1% (2/64) of surgically excised lesions were upgraded to DCIS after excision, which were occult on mammography. With the low upgrade rate and favorable histopathological prognosis, conservative management with US follow-up may be recommended, rather than prompt surgical management.

Radial scar/CSL has been associated with both age and lesion size; lesions smaller than 6–7 mm or in women under the age of 40 are not correlated with cancer, but patients over 50 years of age with lesions greater than 2 cm are at a slightly higher risk [35]. Upstaging in our study was noted with radial scars/CSLs larger than 1.0 cm, and a statistically significant older age was also observed in radial scars with high risk lesions. Several risk factors have been found to be associated with upstaging of radial scar, including older age (> 50 years), postmenopausal status, larger size on radiography, and the presence of atypical hyperplasia [24]. High risk lesions such as atypical hyperplasia are generally considered to be subject to high rates of malignancy underestimation, and thereby warrant surgical excision. [36,37,38]. Previous studies demonstrated that radial scars with associated high risk lesions had a higher rate of upgrade to invasive or noninvasive breast cancer [16, 24]. When radial scar is found with high risk lesion, the frequency of upgrade averages 26.0%, which compares with a rate of 7.5% for those without [39]. Several previous studies have described the use of large-gauge vacuum-assisted needle, and have suggested that if there is no association with atypia and radiologic and histologic findings are concordant, further surgery is not required [16]. However, other studies have not shown significant difference in upgrade rates between vacuum-assisted biopsy devices of differing sizes [40]. Knowledge on the outcomes of radial scars that did not undergo surgery is important for making decisions on optimal management. In our study, none of the un-excised lesions that were followed for at least 5 years resulted in any subsequent malignant lesions. This is consistent with previous study in which there were no malignant lesions during a follow-up period of up to 11 years [41], although the study excluded any atypical proliferative lesions. Resetkova et al. [18] also reported no subsequent carcinoma at a median follow-up of 29 months in patients who did not have radial scar excised.

Our study has limitations. It is a retrospective study and has relatively small sample size. Further prospective study with larger population should validate this claim. Also, there was a substantial proportion of US-guided biopsy and one case of mammography-guided biopsy, any meaningful statistical analysis regarding needle size with upgrade rate could not be carried out. Lastly, due to few cases examined on mammography and MRI, this may introduce bias to the imaging finding interpretations.

Conclusions

In conclusion, radial scar with or without high risk lesions was associated with a low upgrade rate (3.1%) to DCIS on surgery or 5 year follow-up, with no lesions being upgraded to invasive carcinoma. Therefore, excision of radial scars to diagnosis of carcinoma is not warranted. With the emergence of more sophisticated imaging modalities and an increasing number of screening examinations, the question of how to manage these lesions has arisen as a clinical dilemma. In the future, the management of patients with radial scars should be refined according to clinical data, radiologic findings, and the coexistence of high risk lesions, to minimize unnecessary interventions. Radial scar/CSL with associated high risk lesions or larger lesions may undergo surgical excision to maximize the early detection of coexistent invasive carcinoma, evaluate the presence of high risk lesions, and provide guidance on chemoprevention to reduce the future cancer risk.

Abbreviations

CSL:

Complex sclerosing lesion

DCIS:

Ductal carcinoma in situ

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

US:

Ultrasound

References

  1. Eusebi V, Millis RR. Epitheliosis, infiltrating epitheliosis, and radial scar. Semin Diagn Pathol. 2010;27(1):5–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Linda A, Zuiani C, Furlan A, Londero V, Girometti R, Machin P, Bazzocchi M. Radial scars without atypia diagnosed at imaging-guided needle biopsy: how often is associated malignancy found at subsequent surgical excision, and do mammography and sonography predict which lesions are malignant? Am J Roentgenol. 2010;194(4):1146–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sohn VY, Causey MW, Steele SR, Keylock JB, Brown TA. The treatment of radial scars in the modern era--surgical excision is not required. Am Surg. 2010;76(5):522–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Meyer JE, Christian RL, Lester SC, Frenna TH, Denison CM, DiPiro PJ, Polger M. Evaluation of nonpalpable solid breast masses with stereotaxic large-needle core biopsy using a dedicated unit. Am J Roentgenol. 1996;167(1):179–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Rabban JT, Sgroi DC. Sclerosing lesions of the breast. Semin Diagn Pathol. 2004;21(1):42–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Cohen MA, Sferlazza SJ. Role of sonography in evaluation of radial scars of the breast. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2000;174(4):1075–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cawson JN, Nickson C, Evans J, Kavanagh AM. Variation in mammographic appearance between projections of small breast cancers compared with radial scars. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2010;54(5):415–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Braakhuis BJ, Tabor MP, Kummer JA, Leemans CR, Brakenhoff RH. A genetic explanation of Slaughter's concept of field cancerization: evidence and clinical implications. Cancer Res. 2003;63(8):1727–30.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chai H, Brown RE. Field effect in cancer-an update. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2009;39(4):331–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cohen MA, Newell MS. Radial scars of the breast encountered at Core biopsy: review of histologic, imaging, and Management Considerations. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2017;209(5):1168–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Fasih T, Jain M, Shrimankar J, Staunton M, Hubbard J, Griffith CD. All radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions seen on breast screening mammograms should be excised. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2005;31(10):1125–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Conlon N, D'Arcy C, Kaplan JB, Bowser ZL, Cordero A, Brogi E, Corben AD. Radial scar at image-guided needle biopsy: is excision necessary? Am J Surg Pathol. 2015;39(6):779–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Donaldson AR, Sieck L, Booth CN, Calhoun BC. Radial scars diagnosed on breast core biopsy: frequency of atypia and carcinoma on excision and implications for management. Breast. 2016;30:201–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Matrai C, D'Alfonso TM, Pharmer L, Drotman MB, Simmons RM, Shin SJ. Advocating nonsurgical Management of Patients with Small, incidental radial scars at the time of needle Core biopsy: a study of 77 cases. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2015;139(9):1137–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Miller CL, West JA, Bettini AC, Koerner FC, Gudewicz TM, Freer PE, Coopey SB, Gadd MA, Hughes KS, Smith BL, et al. Surgical excision of radial scars diagnosed by core biopsy may help predict future risk of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2014;145(2):331–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Brenner RJ, Jackman RJ, Parker SH, Evans WP 3rd, Philpotts L, Deutch BM, Lechner MC, Lehrer D, Sylvan P, Hunt R, et al. Percutaneous core needle biopsy of radial scars of the breast: when is excision necessary? Am J Roentgenol. 2002;179(5):1179–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Becker L, Trop I, David J, Latour M, Ouimet-Oliva D, Gaboury L, Lalonde L. Management of radial scars found at percutaneous breast biopsy. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2006;57(2):72–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Resetkova E, Edelweiss M, Albarracin CT, Yang WT. Management of radial sclerosing lesions of the breast diagnosed using percutaneous vacuum-assisted core needle biopsy: recommendations for excision based on seven years' of experience at a single institution. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2011;127(2):335–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Linda A, Zuiani C, Furlan A, Lorenzon M, Londero V, Girometti R, Bazzocchi M. Nonsurgical management of high-risk lesions diagnosed at core needle biopsy: can malignancy be ruled out safely with breast MRI? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2012;198(2):272–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Pediconi F, Occhiato R, Venditti F, Fraioli F, Napoli A, Votta V, Laghi A, Catalano C, Passariello R. Radial scars of the breast: contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance mammography appearance. Breast J. 2005;11(1):23–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Razek AA, Gaballa G, Denewer A, Nada N. Invasive ductal carcinoma: correlation of apparent diffusion coefficient value with pathological prognostic factors. NMR Biomed. 2010;23(6):619–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Razek AA, Lattif MA, Denewer A, Farouk O, Nada N. Assessment of axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer with diffusion-weighted MR imaging in combination with routine and dynamic contrast MR imaging. Breast cancer. 2016;23(3):525–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Abdel Razek AA, Gaballa G, Denewer A, Tawakol I. Diffusion weighted MR imaging of the breast. Acad Radiol. 2010;17(3):382–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Andacoglu O, Kanbour-Shakir A, Teh YC, Bonaventura M, Ozbek U, Anello M, Ganott M, Kelley J, Dirican A, Soran A. Rationale of excisional biopsy after the diagnosis of benign radial scar on core biopsy: a single institutional outcome analysis. Am J Clin Oncol. 2013;36(1):7–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Nassar A, Conners AL, Celik B, Jenkins SM, Smith CY, Hieken TJ. Radial scar/complex sclerosing lesions: a clinicopathologic correlation study from a single institution. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2015;19(1):24–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. American College of Radiology. Breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS). 5th ed. Reston Va: American College of Radiology; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bianchi S, Giannotti E, Vanzi E, Marziali M, Abdulcadir D, Boeri C, Livi L, Orzalesi L, Sanchez LJ, Susini T, et al. Radial scar without associated atypical epithelial proliferation on image-guided 14-gauge needle core biopsy: analysis of 49 cases from a single-Centre and review of the literature. Breast. 2012;21(2):159–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lopez-Medina A, Cintora E, Mugica B, Opere E, Vela AC, Ibanez T. Radial scars diagnosed at stereotactic core-needle biopsy: surgical biopsy findings. Eur Radiol. 2006;16(8):1803–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Berg WA. Image-guided breast biopsy and management of high-risk lesions. Radiol Clin N Am. 2004;42(5):935–46 vii.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Osborn G, Wilton F, Stevens G, Vaughan-Williams E, Gower-Thomas K. A review of needle core biopsy diagnosed radial scars in the welsh breast screening Programme. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2011;93(2):123–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Krishnamurthy S, Bevers T, Kuerer H, Yang WT. Multidisciplinary considerations in the management of high-risk breast lesions. Am J Roentgenol. 2012;198(2):W132–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Georgian-Smith D, Lawton TJ. Variations in physician recommendations for surgery after diagnosis of a high-risk lesion on breast core needle biopsy. Am J Roentgenol. 2012;198(2):256–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Park VY, Kim EK, Kim MJ, Yoon JH, Moon HJ. Mammographically occult asymptomatic radial scars/complex Sclerosing lesions at ultrasonography-guided Core needle biopsy: follow-up can be recommended. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2016;42(10):2367–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Mokbel K, Price RK, Mostafa A, Williams N, Wells CA, Perry N, Carpenter R. Radial scar and carcinoma of the breast: microscopic findings in 32 cases. Breast. 1999;8(6):339–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Sloane JP, Mayers MM. Carcinoma and atypical hyperplasia in radial scars and complex sclerosing lesions: importance of lesion size and patient age. Histopathology. 1993;23(3):225–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. McGhan LJ, Pockaj BA, Wasif N, Giurescu ME, McCullough AE, Gray RJ. Atypical ductal hyperplasia on core biopsy: an automatic trigger for excisional biopsy? Ann Surg Oncol. 2012;19(10):3264–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Elsheikh TM, Silverman JF. Follow-up surgical excision is indicated when breast core needle biopsies show atypical lobular hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ: a correlative study of 33 patients with review of the literature. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005;29(4):534–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Sohn V, Arthurs Z, Herbert G, Keylock J, Perry J, Eckert M, Fellabaum D, Smith D, Brown T. Atypical ductal hyperplasia: improved accuracy with the 11-gauge vacuum-assisted versus the 14-gauge core biopsy needle. Ann Surg Oncol. 2007;14(9):2497–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Sun J, Liu X, Zhang Q, Hong Y, Song B, Teng X, Yu J. Papillary thyroid carcinoma treated with radiofrequency ablation in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a case report. Korean J Radiol. 2016;17(4):558–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Eby PR, Ochsner JE, DeMartini WB, Allison KH, Peacock S, Lehman CD. Frequency and upgrade rates of atypical ductal hyperplasia diagnosed at stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: 9-versus 11-gauge. Am J Roentgenol. 2009;192(1):229–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Hou Y, Hooda S, Li Z. Surgical excision outcome after radial scar without atypical proliferative lesion on breast core needle biopsy: a single institutional analysis. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2016;21:35–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 84 Heukseok-Ro, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul, 06973, Republic of Korea

    Su Min Ha

  2. Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 88 Olympic-Ro 43 Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea

    Joo Hee Cha, Hee Jung Shin, Eun Young Chae, Woo Jung Choi & Hak Hee Kim

  3. Department of Radiology, Kangwon National University Hospital, 200-722 Baengnyeong-Ro 156, Chuncheon-Si, Republic of Korea

    Ha-Yeon Oh

Authors
  1. Su Min Ha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joo Hee Cha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hee Jung Shin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eun Young Chae
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Woo Jung Choi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hak Hee Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ha-Yeon Oh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

J.H.C and S.M.H analyzed and interpreted the patient clinical and imaging data and made consensus. S.M.H was a major contributor in writing and revising the manuscript. H.J.S, E.Y.C, H.H.K, and W.J.C acquired and interpreted imaging data of patients, involved in revising the manuscript and approved the final version by ensuring the integrity of the work. H.Y.O analyzed the interpretation of overall data more subjectively, revised the contents and approved the final version ensuring possible questions related to the final version work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joo Hee Cha.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee (Asan Medical Center) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Our institutional review board (Asan Medical Center) approved this retrospective study, and the requirement for informed consent was waived.

Consent for publication

Our institutional review board approved this retrospective study, and the requirement for informed consent and publication was waived.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Additional file

Additional file 1:

Table S1. Imaging features of the radial scar/complex scelrosing lesion with and without associated high risk lesions. (DOCX 20 kb)

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ha, S.M., Cha, J.H., Shin, H.J. et al. Radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions of the breast: radiologic and clinicopathologic correlation. BMC Med Imaging 18, 39 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-018-0279-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-018-0279-z

Keywords

  • Radial scar
  • Complex sclerosing lesion
  • Mammography
  • Ultrasound
  • Surgical management

BMC Medical Imaging

ISSN: 1471-2342

Contact us