Cancer Breast Cancer Benign Breast Conditions Radial Scars and Breast Cancer Risk By Lynne Eldridge, MD Lynne Eldridge, MD Verywell Health's 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 Updated on September 15, 2021 Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention A radial scar is a type of breast mass that can be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. This mass may be benign or precancerous, and it can contain a mixture of tissue, including hyperplasia (increased number of cells), atypia (change in the cell characteristics), or cancer. A large radial scar may appear on a regular screening mammogram. These growths are named radial scars because they appear like a scar when examined microscopically, and they have ducts stemming from their central area. Verywell / Laura Porter A radial scar may also be referred to as: A complex sclerosing lesion of the breastA "black star"Sclerosing papillary proliferationInfiltrating epitheliosisIndurative mastopathy Symptoms Radial scars don't usually cause 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, they may cause some breast pain. Because they don't cause many symptoms, they are most often discovered during a mammogram or a biopsy that's done for another purpose. Causes of Breast Pain and Treatment Options Causes While "scar" is in the name, a radial scar is not necessarily made of scar tissue. It's called that because it has a scar-like appearance when a sample of the tissue is viewed with a microscope. Diagnosis If you have a lesion that looks like it could be a radial scar, your healthcare provider will order further studies for evaluation. Some of the tests used to evaluate a radial scar include: Mammogram Ultrasound Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast Core needle biopsy Studies have found that mammography and ultrasound can't exclude the presence of cancerous tissue in a radial scar, and therefore anyone with a radial scar will need to have a biopsy. A large radial scar can look like breast cancer when it's seen on a mammogram. It's difficult to properly diagnose a radial scar, even with a biopsy, because when viewed with 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, your lifetime risk for developing breast cancer is 1.6 times that of someone who does not have a radial scar. If you have had a radial scar, your healthcare provider may order screening mammograms more frequently than what is normally recommended to document any breast changes. Treatment The treatment of radial scars remains controversial and the management recommendations depend on the size of the scar, as well as other factors. In one study, radial scars increased the risk of breast cancer among women with proliferative disease without atypia, but no significant association between radial scars and cancer was noted among women with atypical hyperplasia. Some women choose to have surgical removal of the mass—even when 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 healthcare provider will discuss treatment options with you. Prevention There is nothing you can do to prevent a radial scar. If you are diagnosed with this type of mass, your healthcare provider may suggest being extra vigilant about your breast health to reduce your risk of cancer. Important lifestyle strategies include sticking to an anticancer diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and lowering your stress levels. Avoid using alcohol and tobacco to protect your overall health as well. Preventing 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 may need careful surveillance with regularly scheduled screening tests. 4 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. 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 Lv M, Zhu X, Zhong S, Chen W, Hu Q, Ma T, Zhang J, Zhang X, Tang J, Zhao J. Radial scars and subsequent breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2014 Jul 14;9(7):e102503. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102503 American Cancer Society. Can I Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer? 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. By Lynne Eldridge, MD Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit