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

Background Radial sclerosing lesions (RSLs) of the breast are benign lesions that can mimic carcinoma on mammography and are frequently associated with malignancy. Guidelines for the selection of patients with RSL on core needle biopsy who require surgical excision are not well defined. We describe the clinical management of RSL diagnosed using a percutaneous vacuum-assisted 9- or 11-gauge stereotactically guided core needle biopsy (SCNB) device. Methods We retrospectively evaluated data on patients with mammographically detected RSLs sampled by SCNB between 2001 and 2007. Demographic data, the size and type of lesion and histological findings were correlated with subsequent surgical excision data. Clinical and radiological follow-up data were collected. Results Among 80 patients with RSLs, 19 underwent surgical excision, and 61 had mammographic surveillance only. RSLs associated on imaging with an underlying architectural distortion were more frequently excised than those associated with calcifications (P = 0.003). The presence of residual calcifications/ architectural distortion on post-biopsy mammogram significantly correlated with subsequent excision (P = 0.00003). Proliferative and/or atypical RSLs were more often excised than nonproliferative RSLs (P = 0.00001). In two patients, proliferative RSL was upgraded to atypical RSL on excision. Clinical and mammographic follow-up for a mean of 32 months (standard deviation, ±23) in the group without excision showed no cancer. Conclusions Architectural distortion on imaging, residual abnormality on post-biopsy mammogram and the presence of proliferative changes and/or epithelial atypia on SCNB were parameters leading to increased performance of surgical excision in our series. No diagnoses were upgraded to malignancy after excision of RSLs, suggesting that more extensive sampling by a 9- or 11-gauge SCNB device, followed by meticulous correlation of radiological and pathological findings and close clinical/radiological follow-up, could obviate surgical excision in the majority of RSL cases without associated atypia on SCNB.