A survey of Canadian breast health professionals’ recommendations for high-risk benign breast disease

Abstract

The management of high-risk benign breast disease (BBD) is changing because of improvements in radiological and pathological analysis. We sought to determine the current practice recommendations of breast health professionals in managing patients with high-risk BBD. We surveyed members of the Canadian Society of Surgical Oncology, Canadian Association of General Surgeons and Canadian Association of Radiologists. The survey contained demographic and case-based questions concerning management of high-risk benign breast lesions. Participants were asked for their recommendations and opinions regarding future risk of breast cancer as well as the role of chemoprevention. There was no consistency among the 41 respondents in the treatment recommendations for any of the high-risk benign conditions, and the lifetime risk associated with classic lobular carcinoma in situ was vastly underestimated. Education and evidenced-based guidelines are urgently needed to ensure more uniform practice nationally.