Radial scar and tubular carcinoma. Mammographic and sonographic findings.

Clinical, mammographic, sonographic and pathologic examinations in 17 patients with nonpalpable stellate lesions showed radiographic findings suggestive of radial scars, with the exception of 2 cases which showed a dense central region. These findings were not sufficiently consistent to differentiate radial scar from carcinoma so that wire localization biopsy was necessary. Four patients had 7 radial scars associated with 6 tubular carcinomas, 2 of them having 3 and 2 radial scars with 2 tubular carcinomas, respectively. No characteristic radiographic findings were made in these cases. Four patients showed radial scar with punctate microcalcifications in the surrounding breast parenchyma as part of benign and premalignant conditions. Ultrasonography in 7 patients showed a hypoechoic area on 4 with acoustic shadow similar to that of carcinoma. Our study suggested that radial scar has a relationship with tubular carcinoma and surgical excision of these stellate lesions is, therefore, required.