Aggressive Action Urged When Evaluating Breast Lesions

Doctors should aggressively evaluate indeterminate breast lesions found in women with a high risk of breast cancer, the results of a new study suggest.

An indeterminate breast lesion is one that cannot be definitively classified as malignant or benign. High-risk women include those who have breast cancer, a history of breast cancer or a genetic predisposition for the disease, according to background information in a news release about the study.

"A short-term follow-up MRI, ultrasound and/or mammographic investigation is usually recommended for indeterminate lesions found in high-risk women. However, that may not be soon enough," study lead author Dr. Martin Korzeniowski, of McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, said in the release.

He and his colleagues looked at 59 breast lesions in 55 women that were identified on MRI as indeterminate. Of those lesions, 22 percent turned out to be malignant on follow-up and subsequent biopsy.

"In our study, the cancer yield was substantial for indeterminate lesions identified on initial contrast-enhanced breast MRI, which suggests that those lesions should be evaluated more aggressively to exclude malignancy and increase one's chances for survival," Korzeniowski said.

The study was scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Radiology/American Roentgen Ray Society, held in San Diego.