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Breast biopsy in women 30 years old or less

Publication ,  Journal Article
Palmer, ML; Tsangaris, TN
Published in: American Journal of Surgery
December 1, 1992

Forty women 30 years of age or less underwent breast biopsy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute between January 1980 and January 1989. Thirty-eight of the 40 women had a palpable breast mass. Thirty-one of these young women had self-detected breast masses, and the median duration before presentation was 6 months. Physical characteristics were described in 30 of the masses. Twenty-three were described as 'fibroadenomas' or smooth, firm, and mobile. Seven masses were described as irregular. The median size of the breast mass was 1.5 cm (range: 0.5 to 9.0 cm). Mammography was performed in 20 patients, but results were reported as abnormal in only 6. Twenty of the masses were described histologically as fibroadenoma. Twelve were described histologically as 'fibrocystic disease' or 'stromal fibrosis.' One case (2.5%) was invasive adenocarcinoma. Probability of serious underlying breast pathology in young women is low but not nil. Noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques are proposed by some authors as cost-efficient methods that may substitute for open biopsy in these patients. Unfortunately, false- negative results persist and are particularly unacceptable in these young women. During the same time period as our study, 54 women aged 30 years or less were referred to Roswell Park Cancer Institute with a previously diagnosed invasive breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer in this biopsy series was 2.5%. The potential costs of misdiagnosed early breast cancer in young women negate any rationalization for less invasive biopsy techniques. Following aspiration to rule out a benign cyst, and a possible period of brief observation for spontaneous resolution (2 or 3 months), excisional biopsy is recommended for young women with a breast mass.

Duke Scholars

Published In

American Journal of Surgery

ISSN

0002-9610

Publication Date

December 1, 1992

Volume

164

Issue

6

Start / End Page

708 / 712

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • 3203 Dentistry
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Palmer, M. L., & Tsangaris, T. N. (1992). Breast biopsy in women 30 years old or less. American Journal of Surgery, 164(6), 708–712.
Palmer, M. L., and T. N. Tsangaris. “Breast biopsy in women 30 years old or less.” American Journal of Surgery 164, no. 6 (December 1, 1992): 708–12.
Palmer ML, Tsangaris TN. Breast biopsy in women 30 years old or less. American Journal of Surgery. 1992 Dec 1;164(6):708–12.
Palmer, M. L., and T. N. Tsangaris. “Breast biopsy in women 30 years old or less.” American Journal of Surgery, vol. 164, no. 6, Dec. 1992, pp. 708–12.
Palmer ML, Tsangaris TN. Breast biopsy in women 30 years old or less. American Journal of Surgery. 1992 Dec 1;164(6):708–712.
Journal cover image

Published In

American Journal of Surgery

ISSN

0002-9610

Publication Date

December 1, 1992

Volume

164

Issue

6

Start / End Page

708 / 712

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • 3203 Dentistry
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences