Atypical Hyperplasia of the Breast: Common, Important, and Not Adequately Recognized

Clinicians should pay more attention to this condition with respect to counseling, screening, and chemoprophylaxis.

Of the approximately one million benign breast biopsies performed annually in U.S. women, some 10% yield a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia (AH, histologically classified as ductal or lobular). AH is associated with a 25-year cumulative risk for breast cancer approaching 30%. In a special report, experts make several points about AH:

Given the high lifetime malignancy risk associated with AH, commonly used breast cancer risk prediction models are not accurate in women with this diagnosis. When counseling women with AH, it is best to refer to the 25-year cumulative risk.
Screening guidelines should be updated to indicate that women with AH are candidates for magnetic resonance screening in addition to mammography. Likewise, women with AH shou…

Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Atypical Hyperplasia of the Breast: Common, Important, and Not Adequately Recognized

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