"Clinical examination of the breast containing regions of radial scar is often normal, although in about 25% of cases radial scars may be palpable15. They do not cause skin thickening or retraction. Lesions are usually small and are detected by mammography when they are at least 5 mm in size. Lesions"
"Its mammographic appearance is also similar to that of a post-surgical breast scar and can vary markedly with different projections (i.e. CC vs MLO)."
"post-surgical breast scar"
"in practice, this is rarely, if ever, a source of confusion; it is extremely rare to find post-surgical scarring with spicules as long as a radial scar"
"The reported prevalence of a radial scar is 0.1-2 per 1000 screening mammograms. Radial scars are very rare in women younger than 40 years and older than 60 years. They most often occur in women between 41-60 years 12,13."
"On ultrasound, a radial scar is often ill-defined and disrupts the architecture of the surrounding breast parenchyma. The lesion is usually round, oval or lobulated. Variable internal echoes can be found. Some radial scars show retro-acoustic attenuation."
"A radial scar is considered a high-risk breast lesion, and histological differentiation from associated carcinoma is required. FNA and core biopsies can underestimate the underlying associated malignancy and are controversial."
Expected headings
"Associations"
"A carcinoma tends to have a dense centre. With a radial scar, there is no dense centre; in fact, the lesion is usually as dense centrally as it is peripherally. There is no "attempt" at forming a mass in a radial scar."
"a central mass tends to form; the spicules are shorter and thicker, and there is retraction of the parenchyma"
"in practice, this is rarely, if ever, a source of confusion; it is extremely rare to find post-surgical scarring with spicules as long as a radial scar"
"A carcinoma tends to have a dense centre. With a radial scar, there is no dense centre; in fact, the lesion is usually as dense centrally as it is peripherally. There is no "attempt" at forming a mass in a radial scar."
"The spicules running from the centre are, in general, longer and gracile than those of a carcinoma, and are described as long and thin, with radiating radiolucent linear structures, which, against a radiolucent fat background, give a black star or dark star appearance 6. Microcalcifications are possible but rare in a radial scar. However, unlike a carcinoma, features such as skin thickening and retraction are characteristically absent 2. There is no visible scirrhous reaction in a radial scar."
"The spicules running from the centre are, in general, longer and gracile than those of a carcinoma, and are described as long and thin, with radiating radiolucent linear structures, which, against a radiolucent fat background, give a black star or dark star appearance 6. Microcalcifications are possible but rare in a radial scar. However, unlike a carcinoma, features such as skin thickening and retraction are characteristically absent 2. There is no visible scirrhous reaction in a radial scar."
"The spicules running from the centre are, in general, longer and gracile than those of a carcinoma, and are described as long and thin, with radiating radiolucent linear structures, which, against a radiolucent fat background, give a black star or dark star appearance 6. Microcalcifications are possible but rare in a radial scar. However, unlike a carcinoma, features such as skin thickening and retraction are characteristically absent 2. There is no visible scirrhous reaction in a radial scar."
"On ultrasound, a radial scar is often ill-defined and disrupts the architecture of the surrounding breast parenchyma. The lesion is usually round, oval or lobulated. Variable internal echoes can be found. Some radial scars show retro-acoustic attenuation."