Heterogeneous risk profiles among B3 breast lesions of uncertain malignant potential. Issue 2 (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Orsaria, Paolo; Grasso, Antonella; Carino, Rita; Caredda, Emanuele; Sammarra, Matteo; Altomare, Carlo; Rabitti, Carla; Gullotta, Gabriella; Perrone, Giuseppe; Pantano, Francesco; Buonomo, Oreste Claudio; Altomare, Vittorio
• Is Part Of: Tumori. Volume 106:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 125
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Breast neoplasm -- needle core biopsy -- positive predictive value -- B3 -- mammography screening; Cancer -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1177/0300891619868301
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-8916

Abstract

Background: Most cases of breast lesions of uncertain malignant potential (B3) undergo surgical intervention. We aimed to analyze the outcome of B3 lesion subtypes in a large series of screen-detected cases. Methods: We screened 2, 986 core needle biopsies to classify B3 lesions. Positive predictive values (PPVs) for malignancy were calculated for a comprehensive risk characterization according to clinicopathologic and morphologic variables. Results: B3 lesions comprised 35% atypical ductal hyperplasia (PPV = 20%), 16.7% flat epithelial atypia (PPV = 12%), 22.7% lobular neoplasia (PPV = 16.2%), 9% papillary lesion (PPV = 18.5%), 8.6% phyllodes tumor (PPV = 3.8%), and 8% radial scars (PPV = 4.1%) based on histopathologic diagnosis. Upgrade rates were 15.9% for calcifications, 13.7% for mass lesions, and 16.7% for architectural deformities, with 8.3% of malignant lesions classified as ductal carcinoma in situ and 6.7% as invasive cancers (PPV = 15%). Conclusion: B3 lesions entail a heterogeneous risk of malignancy, and careful radiologic–pathologic correlation is required for optimal treatment.