title: A review of needle core biopsy diagnosed radial scars in the Welsh Breast Screening Programme.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radial scars are benign breast lesions; their appearance on mammography may, however, mimic carcinoma. Needle core biopsy is performed for pre-operative diagnosis and, currently in Wales, all lesions with benign biopsy results are surgically excised. We have reviewed all  cases of needle core biopsy-diagnosed radial scars from the Welsh breast screening programme, Breast Test Wales (BTW), and investigated the outcome of radial scars based on histology from surgical excision in order to evaluate the appropriateness of the current management of these lesions  in Wales.
  
  
  METHODS
  All needle core biopsy diagnosed radial scars were identified from the BTW screening database from the start of screening in 1989 until the end of 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 118 patients were diagnosed with radial scars on needle core biopsy; two patients  had bilateral radial scars. Median patient age was 54 years (range, 49-68 years). Ninety-five lesions (79%) were thought to be pure radial scars on needle core biopsy; however, only 81 pure radial scars were identified on excision biopsy histology. Carcinoma was present in seven patients  and ductal carcinoma in situ in nine patients at excision biopsy. In two patients, the cancers occurred in lesions reported as pure radial scars on needle core biopsy. Twenty-two lesions showed atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia (ADH/ALH) or both on excision biopsy; 14 of these  lesions were classed as pure radial scars by needle core biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All core biopsy diagnosed radial scars, presenting as screen detected abnormalities, should be excised due to their association with premalignant and malignant conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK. garyosborn2@aol.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wilton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaughan-Williams
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gower-Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies