Surgical excision of pure flat epithelial atypia identified on core needle breast biopsy

The biology of flat epithelial atypia (FEA) is still being investigated as its presence becomes more frequent on biopsy specimens. FEA is more commonly associated with malignancy when found in association with ADH, ALH or LCIS. Pure FEA is only upgraded to cancer in 3.2% of patients. Surgical excision of pure FEA found on core needle biopsy results in overtreatment in the vast majority of breast patients and may not be necessary.