Clauser P, et al. - This study aimed at assessing the usefulness of short-term (6 months) follow-up in patients with Breast Imaging Report and Data System (BI-RADS) 3 and 4a lesions, after a diagnosis of fibroadenoma at an image-guided biopsy. Findings demonstrated that short-term follow-up could be avoided, for lesions initially described as BI-RADS 3 and 4a with a histological diagnosis of fibroadenoma after the biopsy.

Methods

• The clinicians retrospectively reviewed the data of 318 women with 349 biopsy-proven fibroadenomas, a 6-month follow-up, and a follow-up of ≥ 24 months.
• They gathered information on clinical history, lesion characteristics on ultrasound (US), mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), BI-RADS classification, and follow-up.
• They estimated the false-negative (FN) rate and the negative predictive value (NPV) for the biopsy. 

Results

• 18 (5.7%) had a history of breast cancer, among 43 patients (13.5%) presented with a palpable nodule.
• This study reported 334 lesions visible on US (95.7%), 57 on US and mammography (16.3%), and 15 on mammography only (4.3%); 37 lesions were first detected on MRI.
• It was observed that all lesions were stable at 6 months.
• 4 lesions changed their features and were excised, after an at least 1-year follow-up.
• Moreover, histology showed 1 invasive lobular cancer, 1 ductal carcinoma in situ, 1 phyllodes tumor, and 1 papilloma.
• 1.1% was the FN rate of the needle biopsy, and the NPV was 98.9%.