Accuracy and Upgrading of CNB and BI-RADS Diagnoses Compared to Excision: A Clinicopathological-Radiological Correlation of Papillary Breast Lesions and Neoplasms

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

2 Faculty of Medicine, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta, Egypt.

3 Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

4 Surgical Oncology Department, Oncology Center Mansoura University (OCMU), Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

5 Medical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Papillary breast lesions and neoplasms (PBLs/Ns) are diagnostically challenging lesions in both core needle biopsy (CNB) and radiology. Aim: To determine the accuracy and upgrade rate of CNB and BI-RADS diagnosis of PBLs/Ns compared to final excision diagnosis and the factors linked to upgrade. Methods: The favored CNB diagnosis and BI-RADS category for 82 PBLs/Ns were assessed based on histopathology, myoepithelial marker immunohistochemistry, mammographic/ultrasonographic findings. The radiological findings were compared to the pathological diagnoses. The accuracies of CNB and BI-RADS were compared to the excision diagnosis of the corresponding PBLs/Ns. The upgrade rates to malignancy were evaluated for both CNB and BI-RADS. Results: The presence of solid, irregular masses in breasts with composition A/B with calcification in radiology was significantly associated with the diagnosis of suspicious/malignant CNB, and malignant excision specimens (p<0.05). CNB was more accurate (90%), sensitive and specific with high positive and negative predictive values than BI-RADS. Combined CNB/BI-RADS accuracy was 90.2%. Overall upgrade rate came up to 9.8%. Upgrade rates to carcinoma were 7.3% for CNB and 8.5% for BI-RADS. Factors linked to upgrade were the age, lesion-size, BI-RADS category 4A and C, and histopathological/radiological discordance. All the upgraded PBLs/Ns were diagnosed as benign lesions in CNB with present/focally present myoepithelial diagnosis reflecting a sampling error. Conclusion: Up to 9.8% of PBLs/Ns diagnosed on CNB and BI-RADS undergo upgrading upon final excision, despite the high diagnostic accuracy. These evidences should be considered for final decision on whether to excise the lesion or not.

Keywords

Main Subjects