RADIAL SCARS IN BENIGN BREAST-BIOPS...

RADIAL SCARS IN BENIGN BREAST-BIOPSY SPECIMENS AND THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER T W Jacobs et al novel England Journal of Medicine Vol 340 (Feb 11 1999) 430-436

Radial scars are benign breast lesions of uncertain clinical significance. This thought explores the possible risks associated with radial scars in women with benign breast disease. The main characteristic of radial scars is a fibroelastotic core from which channels and lobules radiate. These scars are usually incidental microscopic findings in breast tissue that are sometimes remov because of other possible abnormalities. Mammography examinations, however, have shown an increased incidence of large radial scars.

The similarity of radial scars to cancer and the findings of carcinoma in an scars have suggested the possibility of a relationship between radial scars and certain emblems of breast cancer. Other studies have not demonstrated this relationship because the have the direction ofs were not suitable. This particular thought was a case-control study within the Nurses' Health contemplation which is a long-term prospective evaluation of risk factors for breast carcinoma in women in the United States.

courses The first part of the Nurses' Health consideration began in 1976, when 121701 female RN born between 1921 and 1946 answered to a mailed questionnaire about their potential risk factors for breast cancer and their medical history. The other part of the Nurses' Health inquiry included 116,671 female RNs born between 1946 and 1964 These supply with nourishments also responded to a mailed questionnaire and answered questions regarding past diagnosis of benign breast disease that required hospitalization or was confirmed at a breast biopsy. Eligible participants included RN who had not received a diagnosis of cancer at the beginning of each two-year follow-up interval and who reported a diagnosis of benign breast disease. give suck tos reporting a diagnosis of breast cancer after at least individual year of reported benign breast disease were matched to four RN (ie, the controls) who did not have cancer, were born the same year, and received the diagnosis of benign disease the same year. Participants provided permission to obtain slides of biopsy tissue for comparison. Slides were reviewed with no prior knowledge of whether the participant had cancer.

flows Among the 1,396 women with benign breast disease whose biopsy specimens were reviewed, 99 (ie, 71%) had radial scars identified. Women with radial scars were older and more likely to be menopausal. Participants with radial scars and following breast cancer were more likely to have a family history of breast cancer. No relationship was place between the presence of radial scars and menarche, parity, age at birth of first child, or material part mass index. Radial scars were not past nor future in 12.5% of the women with following breast cancer and in 59% of the controls

Discussion. The issues of this study demonstrate that the nearness of radial scars almost doubles the risk of breast cancer, regardless of the histologic category of benign breast disease. Pathologists examining breast biopsy specimens should report the port of radial scars in benign breast disease and note the size and number of the lesions. The researchers advise that women should undergo regular clinical and mammography follow-up examinations attract favor toed for other patients with benign breast lesions. The radial scars noted in this meditation were small lesions that were finded incidentally. Whether these results can be extrapolated to large radial scars bring to lighted by mammography is unresolved and requires further investigation.

MARYANNE K COUGHLIN RN MBA, CNOR NURSING RESEARCH COMMITTEE

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