Mammographically Occult Asymptomatic Radial Scars/Complex Sclerosing Lesions at Ultrasonography-Guided Core Needle Biopsy: Follow-Up Can Be Recommended

An increasing number of radial scars are detected by ultrasound (US), but their management is controversial. This study investigated the upgrade rate in mammographically occult radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions without epithelial atypia at US-guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy in asymptomatic patients. Nineteen mammographically occult benign radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions (median size, 7 mm; range, 3–23 mm) were included. Patients underwent surgical excision (n = 10) or vacuum-assisted excision, with follow-up US at least 6 mo after benign vacuum-assisted excision results (n = 8), or underwent US follow-up for 2 y after core needle biopsy (n = 1). Any cases with change in diagnosis to high-risk lesions or malignancy at excision were considered upgrades. The upgrade rate was 0.0%. Based on US findings, 15.8% (3/19) were Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3, 68.4% (13/19) were BI-RADS category 4a and 15.8% (3/19) were BI-RADS category 4b. Follow-up with US can be considered for mammographically occult benign radial scar/complex sclerosing lesions diagnosed by US core needle biopsy in asymptomatic patients.