title: Stromal fibrosis of the breast: outcome analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stromal fibrosis in the breast is a non-specific benign pathologic entity with wide spectrum of imaging finding. The false-negative rates (number of cancers missed) previously reported have limited value because short follow-up period and small number of populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the mammographic and sonographic findings of stromal fibrosis of the breast diagnosed by imaging-guided biopsy and to determine the false-negative rate at percutaneous biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2007 and December 2008, 3097 consecutive imaging-guided breast core biopsies were performed. Patients were included in our study if stromal fibrosis was the predominant pathologic finding. Patients who had received <2 years of follow-up were excluded. Mammographic and sonographic findings were reviewed. Follow-up imaging for >2 years and histologic data were reviewed to evaluate lesion stability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stromal fibrosis was diagnosed in 187 (6.0%) of 3097 imaging-guided biopsies among patients with >2 years of follow-up (mean, 41.9 months). Among them, 91 (49%) of 187 lesions were not visible on mammography and calcifications were the most common findings, being identified in 33 lesions (17.6%). The most common sonographic finding was an oval hypoechoic mass with a circumscribed margin. Forty-two lesions (22.5%) were excised. Four false-negative lesions (2.1%, 4/187) were identified; all false-negative lesions were diagnosed within 6 months because of imaging-pathology discordance (75%, 3/4) or disease progression (25%, 1/4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stromal fibrosis diagnosed by imaging-guided biopsy has a wide spectrum of imaging finding and can be managed safely with radiologic-pathologic correlation and subsequent short-term imaging follow-up.
authors: Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Suyoung
authors: S
authors: Shin
authors: Eun Sook
authors: ES
authors: Ko
authors: Boo-Kyung
authors: BK
authors: Han
authors: Eun Young
authors: EY
authors: Ko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary
keywords: Breast; biopsy; fibrosis; mammography; sonography