Radial scars are a benign (non-cancerous) condition of the breast. They are usually discovered when a woman has a mammogram. Rarely they form a lump that can be felt in the breast. They tend to occur in women between the ages of 35 and 65. The average is about 55 years.
During breast screening about 1 in 100 to 1 in 1000 mammograms will detect a radial scar.
On a mammogram radial scars often look just like small cancers. Taking a biopsy of the abnormal area cannot reliably tell whether it is a cancer or a radial scar, so most specialists recommend a small operation to remove the lesion completely. This will cure the problem.
The relationship between radial scars and breast cancer remains a matter debate among the experts. Sometimes traces of cancer or pre-cancerous changes can be found within radial scars. Some specialists feel that this is coincidence, whereas others feel that they may mean a woman has a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
References
- Hughes LE et al. Benign disorders and diseases of the breast, 2nd edition. WB Saunders, 2000
- Tucker AK, Ng YY. Textbook of mammography, 2nd edition. Churchill Livingstone, 2001.