Is surgical excision warranted after benign, concordant diagnosis of papilloma at percutaneous breast biopsy?

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to determine the cancer frequency in lesions yielding a benign, concordant diagnosis of papilloma at percutaneous breast biopsy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was performed of 3,864 lesions that had percutaneous imaging-guided biopsy. In 50 lesions (1.3%), percutaneous biopsy yielded a benign, concordant diagnosis of papilloma. Surgical pathology (n = 25) or minimum 2 years' mammographic follow-up (n = 10) was available for 35 lesions that had biopsy with 11-gauge vacuum-assisted (n = 20) or 14-gauge automated (n = 15) needles. Medical records, imaging studies, and histologic results were reviewed.
RESULTS: Cancer was found in five (14%) of the 35 lesions yielding a benign, concordant diagnosis of papilloma at percutaneous biopsy. Cancer histology was ductal carcinoma in situ in four (80%) and node-negative invasive cancer in one. Four (80%) of five cancers were identified due to interval change at follow-up (median, 22 months; range, 7-25 months). In six (17%) of 35 lesions, surgery revealed high-risk lesions including atypical ductal hyperplasia (n = 3), radial scar (n = 2), and lobular carcinoma in situ (n = 1). There was a significantly (p = 0.02) higher frequency of cancer or high-risk lesion in women with multiple versus solitary papillomas and a trend (p = 0.09) toward a higher cancer rate in women with versus without a family history of breast cancer. Breast cancer history, menopausal status, mammographic pattern, biopsy method, and removal of imaging target had no significant impact on cancer rate.
CONCLUSION: In our study of percutaneously diagnosed papillomas, surgery revealed cancer in 14% and high-risk lesions in 17%. Lesions yielding a benign, concordant diagnosis of papilloma at percutaneous biopsy may warrant surgical excision.