New Machine Learning Method Could Prevent Unnecessary Breast Surgery

Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) is a breast lesion associated with a four- to-five-fold increase in the risk of breast cancer. ADH is primarily found using mammography and identified on core needle biopsy. Despite multiple passes of the lesion during biopsy, only portions of the lesions are sampled. Other variable factors influence sampling and accuracy such that the presence of cancer may be underestimated by 10 to 45 percent. Currently, surgical removal is recommended for all ADH cases found on core needle biopsies to determine if the lesion is cancerous.