Flat Epithelial Atypia: Upgrade Rates and Risk-Stratification Approach to Support Informed Decision Making.

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to determine upgrade rates of pure flat epithelial atypia (FEA) to malignancy and higher-risk lesions and to identify patients with FEA at low risk for upgrade.

STUDY DESIGN

Medical chart review from 2007 to 2016 identified 208 consecutive patients with pure FEA diagnosed by image-guided core needle biopsy who underwent surgical excision (96.2% [200 of 208]) or had at least 2 years of imaging follow-up (3.8% [8 of 208]). Medical records were reviewed for risk factors and surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall upgrade rate of FEA to malignancy was 2.4% (5 of 208). All 5 upgraded cases were ductal carcinoma in situ at operation. The upgrade rate to atypical ductal hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, or atypical lobular hyperplasia was 29.8% (62 of 208). The FEA lesions in patients with a genetic mutation were more likely to upgrade to malignancy than FEA lesions in patients without a genetic mutation (33.3% [1 of 3] vs 2.0% [4 of 205]; p < 0.01). The FEA lesions in patients with a personal history of breast cancer were more likely to upgrade to higher-risk lesions than those without a personal history (47.8% [11 of 23] vs 27.6% [51 of 185]; p = 0.046) but were not more likely to be upgraded to malignancy (0% [0 of 23] vs 2.7% [5 of 185]; p = 0.42).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall risk of upgrade of FEA to malignancy is low at 2.4%; however, the upgrade rate to a higher-risk lesion is nearly 30%. Surveillance rather than surgical excision of FEA can be a reasonable option for patients without a genetic mutation who opt against chemoprevention.