[Retrospective multivariate analysis of radio-pathological correlations of nonpalpable breast lesions. Experience of the Hospital Saint-Louis].

PURPOSE: Several studies have demonstrated that systematic breast cancer screening increases overall survival. We report our experience regarding diagnosis of breast lesions detected using mammography.

METHODS

Case reports of patients operated on in either 1992 or 1993 were retrospectively reviewed. A multivariate analysis of the clinico-pathological correlation was performed.

RESULTS

Four hundred fifty seven patients representing on total 544 procedures, were included in the study. Mean age was 50.5 years (range 19-80 years). Most of the patients had no previous history of mammary lesion. Mammography was performed with prophylactic intent in more than 60% of the cases. Four hundred twelve (75.7%) benign lesions were diagnosed. Main lesions were: adenofibroma (15.7%), fibrocystic mastopathy (66.3%), adenosis (26.2%), ductal hyperplasia (23.9%), lobular hyperplasia (10.7%), and combined ductal and lobular hyperplasia (8.5%). Hyperplasia accompanied by cytonuclear atypia was observed in 49 (11%) cases. One hundred thirty two (24.3%) malignant lesions were reported, including 69 (52.3%) invasive carcinomas and 63 (47.7%) in situ carcinomas. Only nine axillary lymph node dissections were positive and 75 minimal breast cancers were diagnosed. The multivariate analysis showed that only radiological signs are a risk factor for cancer. The relative risk for cancer when focus of irregular and vermicular microcalcifications are diagnosed is 4.2 (2.0-8.5). It is 5.6 (2.5-12.5) in case of spiculated opacity.

CONCLUSION

Exeresis following radiological prophylactic screening allows diagnosis of high-risk benign lesions and low-stage breast cancer. Radiological parameters are the most powerful predictive factors for malignancy.