Short-Term Follow-Up of Palpable Breast Lesions With Benign Imaging Features: Evaluation of 375 Lesions in 320 Women

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of short-term follow-up of palpable masses that have benign imaging features. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The cases of all women with round, oval, or lobular palpable masses with circumscribed margins and homogeneous ultrasound echotexture for which short-term follow-up was recommended from July 1997 through December 2003 were retrospectively identified. Evaluation was by ultrasound and/or mammography and focused clinical examination. Outcome was assessed with imaging or clinical follow-up lasting at least 12 months. The cancer incidence for palpable lesions was compared with that for non-palpable lesions recommended for short-term follow-up. RESULTS. In 379 women, 443 palpable masses with benign features for which short-term follow-up was recommended were identified. Outcome data were available on 375 masses in 320 women. Lesions were evaluated with mammography and ultrasound (n = 186) or ultrasound alone (n = 189). Masses were typically identified only with ultrasound (n = 258, 68.8%); were oval (n = 275, 73.3%), of equal density to normal breast tissue on mammograms (n = 95 on 117 mammograms, 81.2%), and hypoechoic (n = 336 in 372 ultrasound examinations, 90.3%); and were prospectively believed to be fibroadenoma (n = 304, 81.1%). Eighty-five lesions (22.7%) were biopsied soon after evaluation, and one 1.5-mm ductal carcinoma in situ was diagnosed. At follow-up (mean, 2.7 years), 26 lesions (6.9%) had grown. Twenty-four of the 26 lesions were biopsied, and no cancer was diagnosed. The overall cancer prevalence was similar for palpable (0.3%) and nonpalpable (1.6%) masses. The cost of short-term follow-up was less than that of biopsy. CONCLUSION. Short-term follow-up is a reasonable alternative to biopsy of palpable breast lesions with benign imaging features, particularly for young women with probable fibroadenoma.