OBJECTIVETo evaluate the biological behavior and treatment method for the breast atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) and breast lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).

METHODSSeventeen cases of ALH and thirty-five cases of LCIS were reviewed from July 1982 to January 1996. All cases were followed by physical examination, mammography and B-ultrasound for an average of 146.6 months (range, 3 - 257 months).

RESULTSMost cases of ALH and LCIS occurred before menopause (about 69.2%). Fifty-two cases of ALH and LCIS were occasionally verified pathologically after surgery for benign diseases. The microcalcification with ALH and LCIS had been detected in 25 cases, accounted for 48.1%. Eight cases of ALH/LCIS became invasive carcinoma. There were 5 cases in the same breast, 3 cases in the contralateral breast; The subsequent breast cancer occurred longer than nine years after ALH/LCIS was diagnosed. The family history of breast carcinoma and ovary carcinoma occurred in 4 cases of breast carcinoma, accounted for 50%, but it was no significant (P > 0.05). Also, there was no difference between LCIS and ALH, which occurred the breast carcinoma (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe excisional biopsy might be necessary to ALH and LCIS.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma in Situ ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fibrocystic Breast Disease ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors