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Risk for Breast Cancer After Benign Breast Biopsy

Some benign histologic entities confer more risk than others.

Benign breast disease is a risk factor for breast cancer, and some benign histologic entities confer more risk than others. In this study, Mayo Clinic researchers identified 9087 women with benign findings on breast biopsy, and compared their subsequent incidence of breast cancer with the expected incidence from cancer surveillance data for the upper midwestern U.S.

During a median follow-up of 15 years, breast cancer developed in 6.3% of women with nonproliferative histology, in 9.8% of those with proliferative disease without atypia, and in 19% of those with atypical hyperplasia. Compared with risk in the reference population, risk for breast cancer in each of these three groups was significantly increased (relative risks, 1.3, 1.9, and 4.2, respectively). Increased risk persisted for 25 years after a benign biopsy. However, risk for breast cancer was not increased in a subgroup of patients with nonproliferative disease who did not have strong family histories of breast cancer.

Comment: These findings help to refine the probabilities of subsequent breast cancer among women with benign findings on breast biopsy. They confirm a progressive increase in risk, according to specific histologic characteristics.

— Allan S. Brett, MD

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine July 29, 2005

Citation(s):

Hartmann LC et al. Benign breast disease and the risk of breast cancer. N Engl J Med 2005 Jul 21; 353:229-37.

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