title: Differentiation of radial scar from scirrhous carcinoma of the breast: mammographic-pathologic correlation.
abstract: Radial scar, a sclerosing ductal breast lesion characterized by an irregular stellate pattern of epithelial proliferation around a central fibroelastic core, may be confused histologically with scirrhous carcinoma of the breast. Mammographic features used to distinguish these two entities were found unreliable in a retrospective review of 255 consecutive stellate lesions. Of 73 nonpalpable carcinomas, fourteen (19%) had radiographic features of radial scar. Only the presence of microcalcifications in 11 of those patients helped the authors distinguish carcinoma from radial scars. Four of nine biopsy-proved radial scars had a dense central region, simulating the appearance of scirrhous carcinoma. Stellate lesions with radiolucent centers should be considered suggestive of carcinoma, particularly if associated with microcalcifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, New York.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mitnick
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Roses
mesh_terms: D002293:Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D012598:Sclerosis