title: Prophylactic mastectomy in familial breast carcinoma. What do the pathologic findings learn us?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the indications, techniques and pathologic findings of prophylactic mastectomy (pME).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of patients with a strong family history of breast cancer (and ovarian cancer) or with proven BRCA mutation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 1995 and December 2005, sixty seven patients underwent pME: 15% had a BRCA1 mutation, 31% had a BRCA2 mutation and 33% had a strong family history but without proven BRCA mutation and in 21% mutation analysis was not performed. Fifty eight percent had a personal history of breast cancer of which 84% previously underwent a unilateral mastectomy as part of their treatment. The median time to decision from previous treatment for breast carcinoma to pME was 46 months. Mean age at pME was 43 years. Pathologic examination of the pME specimens revealed invasive and/or in situ carcinoma in 19% (13/67). Atypical ductal/lobular hyperplasia (ADH/ALH) or flat epithelial atypia (FEA) were present in another 3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twenty two percent of women at high risk for breast cancer presented at the time of pME with invasive carcinoma or intra-epithelial neoplasia undetected by imaging and clinical examination.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Multidisciplinary Breast Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. kleunen@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Leunen
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Drijkoningen
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Neven
authors: Maria-Rose
authors: MR
authors: Christiaens
authors: Chantal
authors: C
authors: Van Ongeval
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Legius
authors: Frédéric
authors: F
authors: Amant
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Berteloot
authors: Ignace
authors: I
authors: Vergote
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D009154:Mutation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors