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BACKGROUND. Despite numerous published studies, management of benign papillomas without atypia remains controversial. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine the malignancy upgrade rate of benign papillomas, identify risk factors for upgrade, and formulate criteria for selective surgery. METHODS. This retrospective study included benign papillomas without atypia diagnosed on percutaneous biopsy between December 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019. Papillomas that did not undergo surgical excision or at least 2 years of imaging and/or clinical follow-up were excluded. Clinical, imaging, and histopathologic features were extracted from the electronic medical record. Features associated with upgrade to malignancy were identified. Multivariable logistic regression was performed. RESULTS. The study included 612 benign papillomas in 543 women (mean age, 54.5 ± 12.1 [SD] years); 466 papillomas were excised, and 146 underwent imaging or clinical surveillance. The upgrade rate to malignancy was 2.3% (14/612). Upgrade rate was associated ( p < .05) with radiology-pathology correlation (50.0% if discordant vs 2.1% if concordant), patient age (5.6% for 60 years and older vs 0.7% for younger than 60 years), presenting symptoms (6.7% if palpable mass or pathologic nipple discharge vs 1.3% if no symptoms), and lesion size (7.3% if ≥ 10 mm vs 0.6% if < 10 mm). Three of 14 upgraded papillomas were associated with four or more metachronous or concurrent peripheral papillomas. No incidental papilloma or papilloma reported as completely excised on core biopsy histopathologic analysis was upgraded. A predictive model combining radiology-pathology discordance, symptoms (palpable mass or nipple discharge), age 60 years old and older, size 10 mm or larger, and presence of four or more metachronous or concurrent peripheral papillomas achieved an AUC of 0.91, sensitivity of 79%, and spec-ificity of 89% for upgrade. Selective surgery based on presence of any of these five factors, although excluding from surgery incidental papillomas and papillomas reported as completely excised on histopathology, would have spared 294 of 612 lesions from routine excision and identified all 14 upgraded lesions. CONCLUSION. Benign nonatypical papillomas have a low malignancy upgrade rate; routine surgical excision may not be necessary. Selective excision is recommended for lesions satisfying any of the five criteria. Incidental papillomas or papillomas completely excised on histopathology may undergo imaging follow-up. CLINICAL IMPACT. The proposed criteria for selective surgery of benign papillomas on core biopsy would reduce surgeries without delaying diagnosis of malignancy.

During pregnancy and lactation, the breast undergoes unique changes that manifest as varied clinical and imaging findings. Understanding the expected physiologic changes of the breast as well as recognizing the best imaging modalities for a given clinical scenario can help the radiologist identify the abnormalities arising during this time. Discussion with the patient about the safety of breast imaging can reassure patients and improve management. This article reviews the physiologic changes of the breast during pregnancy and lactation; the safety and utility of various imaging modalities; upto-date consensus on screening guidelines; recommendations for diagnostic evaluation of breast pain, palpable abnormalities, and nipple discharge; and recommendations regarding advanced modalities such as breast MRI. In addition, the commonly encountered benign and malignant entities affecting these patients are discussed.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this article is to define the clinical significance of asymmetric ductal ectasia by a review of literature and to describe the imaging findings. CONCLUSION. Asymmetric ductal ectasia has a significant risk for malignancy and high-risk lesions. The findings on conventional imaging may be subtle and easily overlooked. Asymmetric ductal ectasia should be included in the search pattern during image interpretation. Tissue sampling is usually warranted. Ultrasound is critical in identifying ductal abnormalities to guide biopsy.

Objective: The objective of this article is to describe the types of breast emergencies that can be encountered in a breast imaging practice, discuss the characteristic imaging features of these emergencies, and explain the most common methods and interventions used for the treatment of breast emergencies and complications., Conclusion: Breast emergencies are uncommon but require prompt identification and management when they do occur. Patients with mastitis or a breast abscess may be seen for either diagnosis or treatment. Most complications are the result of interventional procedures. Pseudoaneurysms, postbiopsy hematoma, and localization wire migration are the most common situations encountered. A milk fistula resulting from a core biopsy is uncommon. Fortunately, seat-belt injuries to the breast are rare. Knowledge of these entities--of the usual presentation, management, and appropriate follow-up protocols--is essential for breast imagers.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and potential advantages of performing positron emission mammography (PEM)-guided biopsy after diagnostic PEM on the same day., Subjects and Methods: A prospective study included patients with highly suspicious breast lesions identified at mammography or ultrasound (index lesions) and requiring biopsy. Diagnostic PEM was performed with IV injection of 10 mCi of (18)F-FDG. When possible, PEM-guided biopsies were performed on both the index lesion and the additional suspicious PEM-visualized lesions using the biopsy navigation accessory. All index lesions and occult malignant lesions detected with PEM were surgically excised and correlated with biopsy results. Radiation doses to medical staff were recorded., Results: The study included 20 patients in whom 26 of 27 lesions (96%) were adequately visualized to allow PEM-guided biopsy, which was performed on 24 of the 26 lesions. Twenty-one of the 24 (88%) biopsies had concordant results: 17 malignant tumors, one high-risk lesion, and three benign lesions. Three of 24 (13%) PEM-guided biopsies had discordant results, for which ultrasound-guided biopsy was performed. Additional occult malignancy was identified in 3 of 19 breast cancer patients (16%), resulting in two wide local excisions and one mastectomy. Staff doses ranged from 0.8 to 2.0 mrem (0.008-0.02 mSv) per case., Conclusion: Same-day PEM-guided biopsy is feasible for most patients, decreases the radiation dose to both the patient and the medical staff (compared with returning for biopsy another day), and expedites the patient's preoperative staging workup for cancer.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate tissue sampling methods used for MRI-detected suspicious contralateral breast lesions in the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) 6667 trial., Materials and Methods: Breast MRI was performed at 25 institutions in 969 women who had a recent diagnosis of unilateral breast cancer and negative contralateral mammography and clinical breast examinations. Biopsy was recommended for MRI findings in 135 women, and 121 underwent sampling. Frequencies and positive biopsy rates of sampling methods used for initial diagnosis and imaging guidance techniques were calculated and compared., Results: Sampling yielded 30 malignant and 91 benign results. Initial sampling used needle biopsy in 88 of 121 (72.7%) and surgical biopsy in 30 of 121 (24.8%) women. Surgical biopsy was excisional biopsy in 28 of 30 (93.3%) and mastectomy in two of 30 (6.7%). The remaining three of 121 (2.5%) women underwent mastectomy, but it was not documented whether this represented initial tissue sampling. Of imaging-guided procedures, 56 of 106 (52.8%) used MRI; 49 of 106 (46.2%), ultrasound; and one of 106 (1.0%), stereotaxis. MRI-guided sampling was with needle biopsy rather than wire-localized surgical biopsy in 33 of 56 (58.9%) women, whereas ultrasound used needle biopsy in 47 of 49 (95.9%). Positive biopsy rates of sampling methods were 20.5% for needle biopsy, 46.2% for excisional biopsy, and 0% for mastectomy., Conclusion: The majority of initial biopsies for MRI-detected contralateral breast lesions used needle biopsy rather than surgical biopsy. Contralateral surgery could have been avoided in most cases had needle biopsy been performed because most excisional biopsy and all mastectomy results were benign. MRI-guided biopsy was significantly more likely than ultrasound-guided sampling to use wire-localized surgical biopsy rather than needle biopsy.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to present the MRI features of stromal fibrosis of the breast, thus enabling radiologists to better determine radiologic-pathologic concordance of biopsy results and appropriate patient management., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of radiology records between 2003 and 2009 identified 123 MRI-detected lesions with the histologic diagnosis of stromal fibrosis. Of these, 83 cases were excluded either because stromal fibrosis was not the primary histologic diagnosis, or because there were associated pathologic abnormalities that may have contributed to contrast enhancement. The remaining 40 lesions with a primary histologic diagnosis of stromal fibrosis were included in our study. Their MRI and histopathologic features were examined and categorized., Results: The lesions included five foci, 23 masses, and 12 areas of nonmasslike enhancements. The prevalent features of the masses were size smaller than 1 cm (20/23 [87%]), round or oval shape (16/23 [70%]), irregular or spiculated margins (15/23 [65%]), rapid or medium rate of initial contrast uptake (21/23 [91%]), and plateau or washout curves (16/23 [70%]). Most nonmass lesions showed clumped enhancement (9/12) and linear distribution (7/12). Many of these features were suggestive of malignancy. Twenty-seven of 40 cases (68%) had histologic confirmation by excision or MRI confirmation of benignancy. No false-negative cases have been identified to date. Histopathologic correlation showed the presence of masslike septal fibrosis associated with ectatic vascular channels in 60-67% of cases, which may lead to increased contrast enhancement on MRI., Conclusion: Stromal fibrosis has widely variable MRI features, often mimicking breast carcinoma. It may represent an acceptable benign concordant diagnosis on vacuum-assisted large-core needle biopsy for the described MRI findings.

The educational objectives for this self-assessment module are for the participant to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her understanding of breast MRI.

Objective: The objective of our study was to present the imaging features, including an MRI example, of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the breast, an uncommon soft-tissue neoplasm of the breast, and review the literature., Conclusion: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is an extremely rare malignancy of the breast, with few published reports. This is the largest collection of such cases in a single institution with analysis of the imaging features.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify significant factors impacting patient retention and attrition in a university-based breast center., Materials and Methods: In this pilot study, we surveyed current and former mammography patients at our university hospital and another affiliated site. Three hundred three current mammography patients ("stayers") and 117 patients who no longer receive mammography services at these sites ("leavers") were interviewed by telephone between April and May 2003., Results: Stayers cited "doctor or hospital referral" (20%) and "quality of care" (19%) as reasons for having their mammography examinations at the university-based sites, with 77% "very satisfied" with the service and care they received. Fewer than 1% reported dissatisfaction. Stayers were also very satisfied with travel time from home (36%), convenience of parking (33%), and safety of the neighborhood (27%). Among leavers, 37% cited convenience to home or work as the reason for choosing their current mammography provider. Reasons for leaving the university-based sites included difficulty in scheduling appointments (15%) and current mammography provider mandated by their insurance provider (14%). Leavers expressed high levels of dissatisfaction with facility-related issues: travel time from home (26%), convenience of parking (26%), and safety of the surrounding neighborhood (19%)., Conclusion: Although both stayers and leavers reported satisfaction with overall quality of service and care received at the university-based locations, stayers gave higher marks than leavers.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the outcome of lobular neoplasia diagnosed at 11-gauge stereotactic vacuum-assisted biopsy (SVAB)., Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of 1,819 lesions sampled with 11-gauge SVAB yielded 27 patients with lobular neoplasia as the most severe pathologic entity diagnosed. Patients with lobular neoplasia associated with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or infiltrating carcinoma were excluded. Twenty patients underwent surgical excisional biopsy, and seven patients were followed mammographically for a mean of 52 months (range, 14-67 months). Mammographic lesion type, number of specimens obtained per lesion, and specific histologic features related to lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) were assessed. Results were compared with histologic findings at surgery or mammographic follow-up., Results: Nineteen lesions presented mammographically as microcalcifications, four as masses, three as masses with associated microcalcifications, and one as architectural distortion. A mean of 13 specimens were obtained per lesion. Carcinoma was found at surgical excision in 19% of the lesions (5/27). Lesions were upgraded to DCIS (n = 2), invasive lobular carcinoma (n = 2), and mixed invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma (n = 1). In addition to the diagnosis of lobular neoplasia at SVAB, one patient presented with synchronous infiltrating ductal carcinoma in the contralateral breast, and two patients developed metachronous infiltrating ductal carcinoma in a different quadrant of the ipsilateral breast. Twelve of the 27 lesions included LCIS. These lesions were evaluated pathologically to distinguish the classic (10/12) from the pleomorphic (2/12) form of this entity. Ten of the 12 LCIS cases underwent surgical excisional biopsy with four of the five upgrades occurring in these patients. Only one of these patients was shown to have the pleomorphic type of LCIS. Lesions in seven patients who underwent mammographic follow-up remained stable., Conclusion: The known association of lobular neoplasia with high-risk and malignant lesions at surgical biopsy requires careful consideration when lobular neoplasia is diagnosed as the most severe histologic entity at SVAB. The diagnosis of lobular neoplasia at 11-gauge SVAB is not reliable in view of the 19% upgrade rate at the time of surgical excisional biopsy in our study. No predictive mammographic features allowed distinction between the patients with lesions that were upgraded at the time of surgery from those whose lesions were not upgraded.

Objective: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of using a 14-gauge Tru-Cut needle without imaging guidance vs using an 18-gauge Biopty gun with sonographic guidance for percutaneous biopsy of kidney transplants., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 105 biopsies (in 68 patients) in which the Biopty gun with an 18-gauge needle was used and data from 100 biopsies (in 64 patients) in which a 14-gauge Tru-Cut needle was used., Results: Significantly fewer major complications (p = .03) occurred when the Biopty gun was used (2%) vs when the Tru-Cut needle was used (10%). Two major complications (2%), both hematuria requiring transfusion, occurred in the 105 biopsies performed with the Biopty gun. Major complications occurred in 10 (10%) of the 100 biopsies done with the Tru-Cut needle: three obstructed allografts caused by blood clots, two episodes of hypovolemic shock, one case of shock and obstruction, and four intraperitoneal hemorrhages (one of which required nephrectomy). Biopsy specimens were adequate for histopathologic diagnosis in more than 98% of cases for both the Biopty gun and the Tru-Cut needle., Conclusion: We conclude that imaging-guided percutaneous biopsy of renal allografts with a Biopty gun is as accurate as and safer than biopsy with the Tru-Cut needle.

Radiologic visualization of calcification within lung cancer is uncommon and may cause confusion and misdiagnosis. For this reason, we reviewed CT records of 353 patients undergoing initial evaluation of lung cancer for the presence of calcification within the tumor, both to document this finding and to estimate its prevalence. Twenty patients (6%) whose records indicated that CT showed calcification were identified, and their chest radiographs and CT scans were analyzed. Patients were included in the study if calcium was seen within the tumor on noncontrast pretreatment CT scans and if pathologic data were available. There were 15 lung and five mediastinal tumors. Fourteen were 5 cm or greater in diameter; three were between 3 and 5 cm, and three were 2 cm or smaller. Cell types of the tumors included small-cell carcinoma (eight patients), squamous cell carcinoma (seven patients), adenocarcinoma (four patients), and undifferentiated carcinoma (one patient). Patterns of calcification were amorphous (eight patients), punctate (10 patients), and reticular (two patients). Extent of tumor calcification and distribution (central, peripheral, or diffuse) did not correlate with cell type or size of the lesion. The visualization of calcium on chest radiographs and CT scans does not alone exclude the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma.