Cancer Breast Cancer Benign Breast Conditions Radial Scars and Breast Cancer Risk By Lynne Eldridge, MD facebook Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time." Learn about our editorial process Lynne Eldridge, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on July 13, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on August 18, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention A radial scar is a star-shaped breast mass that may be completely benign, precancerous, or contain a mixture of tissue, including hyperplasia, atypia, or cancer. If one is rather large, it may appear on a regular screening mammogram. A radial scar is named as such because it has a center from which ducts stem and because it has the appearance of a scar when examined by a pathologist. praetorianphoto / Getty Images While some may not be cancerous, their presence does increase one's breast cancer risk. Further concerning, the nature of radial scars is not very easy to diagnose. A radial scar may also be referred to as: A complex sclerosing lesion of the breastA "black star"Sclerosing papillary proliferationInfiltrating epitheliosisIndurative mastopathy Symptoms A radial scar in breast tissue usually won't cause a lump that you can feel, nor will it make breast skin dimple or discolor. In some cases, a radial scar may cause some breast pain. Because they don't cause many symptoms, radial scars are most often discovered during a biopsy for another purpose. Possible Reasons Behind Your Breast Pain Causes While "scar" is in the name, a radial scar is not always made of scar tissue. It's called that because it has a scar-like appearance when a sample of the tissue is viewed under a microscope. Fibrocystic Breast Changes Diagnosis Some of the tests used to evaluate a radial scar include: MammogramUltrasoundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrastCore needle biopsy You may not need all of these tests, but it is important to have a breast biopsy so a pathologist can examine the tissue in question. Studies have found that mammography and ultrasound alone can't exclude the presence of cancerous tissue in a radial scar, and therefore a biopsy of some form will be needed for anyone with a radial scar until better diagnostic techniques are developed. Having a radial scar causes concern because a large one looks like breast cancer when seen on a mammogram. It's difficult to properly diagnose a radial scar, even with a biopsy, because under a microscope, the cell geometry closely resembles tubular carcinoma. This typically benign breast mass sometimes has malignant tissue hiding behind it. If you have been diagnosed with a radial scar, then your lifetime risk for developing breast cancer is double that of someone who does not have a radial scar. Your doctor may order extra screening mammograms to document any breast changes. Treatment You have a few options for radial scar treatment. Many doctors advise patients to have this breast mass surgically removed in order to prevent a possible malignancy from forming. Some women choose to go this route—even though cancer isn't present. This may be done with an open surgical biopsy or a lumpectomy, depending on the size of the radial scar. The tissue is then examined and tested in a lab. If your radial scar does not contain any invasive breast cancer cells, you won't need radiation, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapy as follow-up treatments. If the tissue does contain breast cancer cells, your doctor will discuss the appropriateness of these options in regard to your specific case with you. Prevention There is nothing you can do to prevent a radial scar. However, because of the increased risk of malignancy that a radial scar carries, your doctor may suggest being extra vigilant about your breast health. Keep your risk of breast cancer low by sticking to an anticancer diet and following other strategies that reduce breast cancer risk, such as engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and lowering your stress levels. Avoid using alcohol and tobacco to protect your overall health as well. Lifestyle Strategies That Can Prevent Breast Cancer A Word From Verywell All women are at risk of breast cancer, with the disease affecting one out of eight females. Those at an increased risk due to a radial scar or a family history are often more likely to follow through with screening tests. In this sense, having a risk factor for breast cancer may at least increase the chance that, if you develop breast cancer, you may find it at an earlier stage than someone who is not as vigilant about screening measures. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get honest information, the latest research, and support for you or a loved one with breast cancer right to your inbox. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Breastcancer.org. Radial Scars. Updated October 16, 2018. Cohen MA, Newell MS. Radial Scars of the Breast Encountered at Core Biopsy: Review of Histologic, Imaging, and Management Considerations. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2017;209(5):1168-1177. doi:10.2214/AJR.17.18156 American Cancer Society. Can I Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer? Updated September 10, 2019. Additional Reading Bianchi S, Giannotti E, Vanzi E, et al. Radial Scar Without Associated Atypical Epithelial Proliferation on Image-Guided 14-Gauge Needle Core Biopsy: Analysis of 49 Cases from a Single-Centre and Review of the Literature. Breast. 2012. 21(2):159-64. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2011.09.005. Linda A, Zuiani C, Furlan A, et al. Radial Scars Without Atypia Diagnosed at Imaging-Guided Needle Biopsy: How Often is Associated Malignancy Found at Subsequent Surgical Excision, and do Mammography and Sonography Predict Which Lesions are Malignant?. AJR American Journal of Roentgenology. 2010. 194(4):1146-51. doi: 10.2214/AJR.09.2326.