Question: I recently had a breast biopsy with invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 3 and ductal carcinoma in situ. My report said “the carcinoma is estrogen and progesterone receptor negative (<5%) and negative for her2/neu over-expression (1+).” I read online that sometimes even less than 5% could still be positive for the estrogen receptor. [...]
Question: Hello, I just received the results of my core biopsy, I would like you opinion on it. Proliferated fibrocystic changes comprised of ductal epithelial hyerlasia with focal atypia, duct single minute microcalcification seen in benign fibrotic tissue. Patient needs surgery consult for breast biopsy. At this point, what do you think my risk is for cancer? I [...]
Question: After several years of mammograms showing mild calcifications, this year I was informed that the radiologist saw some mild changes in the calcifications. I did another mammogram, followed by a core biopsy. The initial report came back benign, but the final came back as atypical ductal hyperplasia. I am now scheduled [...]
Question: Four weeks ago I had a core biopsy with ductal carcinoma in situ and recently had a lumpectomy. My doctor said there was 2.2 cm of DCIS, high grade with necrosis, margins negative, estrogen receptor negative. He is suggesting radiation therapy but when I went for a second opinion, the pathologist said [...]
This past October I was at the XXVII Brazilian Society of Pathology meeting in Buzios, Brazil where I was invited to give a few lectures on breast pathology. I gave one lecture on the traditional grading of breast cancer vs. the new molecular tests that are available. The audience response made me think more on [...]
In the January 1, 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a study was released which confirms the belief that tubular carcinomas of the breast have a more favorable prognosis than typical Grade I invasive carcinomas, NST.
I’ve reported before on invasive carcinomas which have been associated with a more favorable prognosis. Tubular carcinoma is [...]
Here is a summary by a special panel of the American Society of Breast Disease on the importance of multidisciplinary breast care which addresses gaps in our current process of trying to obtain optimal breast health care for patients.
As a disclaimer, I am a member of the American Society of Breast Disease, but I was not [...]
I hope you read this article on the importance of having a breast pathologist read your biopsy. I have posted this before, but it’s such an important “white paper” report from Komen that I think it deserves more discussion.
When confronted with a breast health issue, many patients seek out a particular breast center or a [...]
Question: I have been diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. The biopsy results said the tumor was ER and PR positive, and HER2 negative, and a grade 2. However, after surgery, the pathology report said ER positive, PR negative, and didn’t mention the HER2 status at all. It also changed the grade down to a 1. [...]
Question: What is a sarcomatoid carcinoma? My core biopsy report said “invasive carcinoma with spindle cell features, cannot rule out sarcomatoid carcinoma.”
