Radial scar in the female breast. A long-term follow-up study of 32 cases.

In a retrospective histologic study of 1862 benign breast tissue specimens, 32 cases were found to have radial scar. The radial scar was multicentric in 44%, and found in breasts with fibrocystic disease and/or duct ectasia. During a follow-up period of 19.5 years (range, 15-24 years), one patient developed breast cancer compared with an expected rate of 0.94. Therefore, local excision of radial scar without further follow-up is sufficient.