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Deutsches Arzteblatt International Aug 2019Most clinical breast changes in women are benign; in only 3% to 6% of cases are they due to breast cancer. How- ever, there is a lack of up-to-date, evidence-based... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Most clinical breast changes in women are benign; in only 3% to 6% of cases are they due to breast cancer. How- ever, there is a lack of up-to-date, evidence-based treatment recommendations for the various benign differential diagnoses.
METHODS
Selective literature search of PubMed from 1985 to May 2019, including current national (AWMF, Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften [Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany]) and inter- national guidelines.
RESULTS
Mastalgia and fibrocystic changes are common (around 50% of all women over the age of 30). Fibroadenomas occur in 25% of women; they are the most common benign tumors of the breast and do not require treatment. With most benign breast changes the risk of dedifferentiation is very low. However, it is important in the differential diagnosis to distinguish between such benign changes and breast cancer or changes that carry a risk of malignancy. Complex cysts, for example, carry a risk of malig- nancy of 23% to 31%, papillary lesions 16% , and radial scars 7%. Where there is doubt, histological confirmation should be sought by means of percutaneous biopsy.
CONCLUSION
Benign breast changes can be definitively distinguished from malignant lesions through the selective use of avail- able diagnostic investigations and interdisciplinary collaboration. When lesions of uncertain malignant potential are found (B3 in the biopsy classification), complete excision is indicated. Prospective studies on the early diagnosis of breast cancer in lesions carrying a risk of malignancy are desirable.
Topics: Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Germany; Humans
PubMed: 31554551
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2019.0565 -
Virchows Archiv : An International... Jan 2022Apocrine change is recognised in benign, atypical and malignant lesions of the breast. Apocrine metaplasia, a frequent finding in the breast of women over the age of... (Review)
Review
Apocrine change is recognised in benign, atypical and malignant lesions of the breast. Apocrine metaplasia, a frequent finding in the breast of women over the age of 25 years, is most commonly seen in benign cysts with a simple or papillary configuration. Apocrine change is also recognised in other benign lesions including sclerosing adenosis, now known as apocrine adenosis. Apocrine atypia usually refers to cytological atypia in which there is at least threefold variation in nuclear size but architectural atypia may also occur. The distinction between atypical apocrine hyperplasia and non-high-grade apocrine ductal carcinoma in situ may be difficult due to the relative rarity of these entities and the lack of validated diagnostic criteria. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) with apocrine change is considered to be a variant of pleomorphic LCIS. An apocrine variant of encapsulated papillary carcinoma is also recognised. Apocrine change is described in invasive carcinoma, including no special type, lobular, micropapillary and mucinous variants. The recent WHO 2019 update recognises 'carcinoma with apocrine differentiation' as a special type breast carcinoma based on the presence of apocrine morphology in at least 90% of the tumour. Tumours with apocrine morphology are usually but not always hormone receptor negative. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) status is variable. Molecular studies have identified breast tumours with apocrine features and high expression of androgen receptor mRNA including 'luminal androgen receptor tumours' and 'molecular apocrine tumours'. The term 'pure apocrine carcinoma' has been proposed to describe an invasive carcinoma with apocrine morphology that is oestrogen and progesterone receptor negative and androgen receptor positive. HER-2 status may be positive or negative. This article reviews the pathology of benign, atypical and malignant apocrine lesions of the breast, with emphasis on diagnostic criteria including an approach to evaluation of apocrine lesions on needle core biopsy, and recent advances in our understanding of invasive apocrine carcinoma.
Topics: Adult; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Sweat Gland Neoplasms
PubMed: 34537861
DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03185-4 -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Jan 2020Microglandular adenosis is a rare borderline neoplastic lesion of the breast composed of haphazardly located small, round tubules with a single cell layer interspersed... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT.—
Microglandular adenosis is a rare borderline neoplastic lesion of the breast composed of haphazardly located small, round tubules with a single cell layer interspersed within breast stroma and/or adipose tissue. Microglandular adenosis is devoid of a myoepithelial cell layer, and has a characteristic immunophenotype, being positive for S100 and negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2/. When associated with cancer, microglandular adenosis and associated invasive carcinoma share the same molecular alterations, including mutation; therefore, microglandular adenosis is considered a nonobligate precursor of triple (HER2/, estrogen and progesterone receptors)-negative breast carcinoma. Microglandular adenosis is an important diagnostic pitfall as it can be easily mistaken for a low-grade invasive carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE.—
To provide a review of the clinicopathologic features of microglandular adenosis and associated invasive carcinoma, with emphasis on key features separating entities in the differential diagnosis.
DATA SOURCES.—
Review of current literature on microglandular adenosis and associated invasive carcinoma and personal experience of authors.
CONCLUSIONS.—
Microglandular adenosis can mimic breast carcinoma; attention to key features, including morphologic-immunophenotypic correlation, is essential in establishing the diagnosis.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Precancerous Conditions; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 31116044
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2019-0049-RA -
Journal of Breast Cancer Mar 2011Microglandular adenosis (MGA) of the breast is a very rare and benign proliferative lesion. Most patients complain of a palpable breast mass that may arouse a clinical...
Microglandular adenosis (MGA) of the breast is a very rare and benign proliferative lesion. Most patients complain of a palpable breast mass that may arouse a clinical suspicion of breast cancer. Histopathologically, it is hard to distinguish MGA from breast cancer because of the lack of a myoepithelial layer and infiltrative proliferation. Several studies have reported a strong relationship between MGA and carcinoma arising in MGA, so the mass should be excised completely in cases of MGA determined from a core needle biopsy rather than observation. A 72-years-old woman presented with a palpable breast mass. On physical examination, a mass was palpable in the right upper outer quadrant area and somewhat fixed to the surrounding tissues and pectoralis major muscle. We could not detect any mass or dense lesion on mammography because of a grade 4 dense breast. Ultrasonographic findings revealed a low echoic lesion with indistinct margins. The result of a core needle biopsy was MGA, which was confirmed by excision. We report one case of MGA, which was believed to breast cancer clinically.
PubMed: 21847399
DOI: 10.4048/jbc.2011.14.1.72 -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Oct 2016Apocrine change in the breast is an extremely common finding. In most cases, the benign or malignant nature of the lesion is easily recognized. Apocrine adenosis is used... (Review)
Review
Apocrine change in the breast is an extremely common finding. In most cases, the benign or malignant nature of the lesion is easily recognized. Apocrine adenosis is used to describe sclerosing adenosis with apocrine change. The term apocrine atypia is used when there is significant cytologic atypia in apocrine cells, characterized by a 3-fold nuclear enlargement, prominent/multiple nucleoli, and hyperchromasia. Atypical apocrine adenosis is diagnosed when apocrine adenosis and apocrine atypia are superimposed. However, there are no definite criteria to distinguish atypical apocrine adenosis from apocrine ductal carcinoma in situ. Immunohistochemical markers can be confounding and may lead to erroneous diagnoses. Atypical apocrine features in sclerosing lesions may be misinterpreted as invasive carcinoma if the underlying lesion is not recognized. In the absence of definite features of malignancy, the diagnosis of apocrine ductal carcinoma in situ may be extremely difficult. In the present article, we review atypical apocrine adenosis focusing on diagnostic challenges and their implications on clinical management.
Topics: Apocrine Glands; Breast; Carrier Proteins; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Glycoproteins; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Membrane Transport Proteins; Metaplasia; Precancerous Conditions
PubMed: 27684975
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2016-0238-RA -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Sep 2007Microglandular adenosis is widely known as a benign breast lesion that can produce a mass. It differs from other types of adenosis by having an infiltrative pattern of... (Review)
Review
Microglandular adenosis is widely known as a benign breast lesion that can produce a mass. It differs from other types of adenosis by having an infiltrative pattern of growth and glands lacking a myoepithelial layer. Although in every other aspect the cells lining the glands are epithelial, they stain strongly with S100 protein. Most cases of microglandular adenosis are resolved after adequate excision, but more recent data suggest that this lesion may be a precursor for carcinoma, with atypical microglandular adenosis being an intermediate lesion. Carcinomas arising in a background of microglandular adenosis, although they may be low grade, are commonly estrogen and progesterone receptor negative, in contrast to most conventional low-grade carcinomas unrelated to microglandular adenosis. They also show immunopositivity for S100 protein, similar to microglandular adenosis. Diagnostic problems include differentiating microglandular adenosis from carcinoma and assessing the extent of the carcinoma component. In this review, we discuss the histomorphologic and immunophenotypic characteristic of the spectrum of microglandular adenosis lesions with emphasis on diagnostic features distinguishing microglandular adenosis from well-differentiated carcinoma, in particular, tubular carcinoma, and assessment of surgical margins of excision in such lesions.
Topics: Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; S100 Proteins
PubMed: 17824796
DOI: 10.5858/2007-131-1397-BCAIMA -
Modern Pathology : An Official Journal... Jul 2021Microglandular adenosis (MGA)-related lesions, including atypical MGA (AMGA) and carcinoma involving MGA (C-MGA), are characterized by epithelial atypia, negative...
Microglandular adenosis (MGA)-related lesions, including atypical MGA (AMGA) and carcinoma involving MGA (C-MGA), are characterized by epithelial atypia, negative hormone receptors, and HER2 status, and can mimic invasive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in core needle biopsies (CNB) resulting in selection for treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We identified 12 cases of AMGA and/or C-MGA in post-NAC excision specimens (EXC) and analyzed their morphologic and immunohistochemical (IHC) features. All CNBs were initially diagnosed as containing TNBC. Upon re-review, TNBC was confirmed in nine cases. In three CNBs AMGA and/or C-MGA had been interpreted as TNBC. AMGA was initially recognized in only one case but AMGA and/or C-MGA were present in an additional nine CNBs. At EXC, no residual TNBC was present in 5 of 9 EXCs and all 12 cases showed residual AMGA and/or C-MGA. Similar to conventional MGA, AMGA, and C-MGA were positive for S-100, laminin and collagen IV and negative for calponin and p63. Following NAC, these lesions retained their typical staining pattern despite acquiring treatment-related morphologic alterations, most notably of which were areas of single cell growth pattern seen in eight EXCs. This study is the first to report the effects of NAC on AMGA and C-MGA. Our data showed no response of the AMGA and/or C-MGA following NAC in contrast to the high response rate of conventional TNBC. In particular, the infiltrative single cell pattern of post-NAC MGA-related lesions closely mimicked residual TNBC. The persistence of AMGA and C-MGA following NAC supports the notion that these lesions are distinct from conventional TNBC. Our findings also highlight the challenges in recognizing AMGA and C-MGA in CNBs which may lead to unwarranted treatment with NAC in the absence of conventional TNBC.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 33649459
DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00781-2