Breast Pathology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to breast pathology, focusing on various lesions, carcinoma types, risk factors, and clinical presentations.

Fibrocystic changes

A variety of changes in breast tissue that can range from benign to those with an increased risk of breast carcinoma.

Cysts

Fluid-filled sacs in the breast tissue that often form due to dilation of ducts.

Sclerosing adenosis

Proliferative breast disease that features overgrowth of fibrous tissue and small duct patterns.

Hyperplasia

An increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ, often leading to an increase in size.

Atypical ductal hyperplasia

A type of breast lesion with abnormal cell proliferation which carries a significant risk of breast cancer.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

A noninvasive form of breast cancer where cancer cells are confined to the ducts.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

A marker of an increased risk of breast cancer, characterized by abnormal cells in the lobules.

Paget's disease of the breast

A type of breast cancer that occurs in the nipple and may present with ulceration or discharge.

Invasive ductal carcinoma

The most common form of breast cancer that invades surrounding tissues.

Invasive lobular carcinoma

A type of breast cancer that often grows in a single-file pattern of cells.

Mammogram

An X-ray imaging method used to examine the breast for tumors or other abnormalities.

Benign tumor

A non-cancerous growth that does not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.

Fibroadenoma

The most common benign tumor of the breast, typically well-circumscribed and freely movable.

Phyllodes tumor

A usually benign tumor of the breast that can grow large and is often treated by excision.

Blue dome cysts

Cysts that appear blue when filled with turbid fluid, often seen in fibrocystic change.

Apocrine metaplasia

A benign change in breast tissue characterized by the presence of apocrine cells lining cysts.

Papillary growth

An abnormal growth pattern where small finger-like projections develop within a duct.

Breast cancer risk factors

Factors increasing the likelihood of developing breast cancer, including age, genetics, and hormonal factors.

ER-positive

Breast cancers that express estrogen receptors, often responsive to hormone therapies.

HER2-positive

A breast cancer subtype overexpressing the HER2 protein, associated with aggressive disease.

Angiogenesis

The formation of new blood vessels, commonly associated with tumor growth and metastasis.

Breast cancer morphology

The structural characteristics of breast cancers, including shape and histologic features.

Intraductal papilloma

A benign tumor arising in a duct, characterized by a fibrous core and possible bloody discharge.

Breast carcinoma

A type of cancer originating from breast tissue, which can be invasive or non-invasive.

Tumor grading

A system used to assess how much the cancer cells differ from normal cells and their growth potential.

Mitotic count

A measure of how many cells are dividing in a tissue or tumor, related to tumor aggressiveness.

Proliferative breast disease

Conditions characterized by increased cell growth in breast tissue, some of which are associated with a higher cancer risk.

Clinical course

The progression and outcomes of a disease, including factors influencing prognosis and treatment response.

Nipple adenoma

A benign tumor that occurs in the nipple area, characterized by growth of glandular tissue.

Papillary carcinoma

A type of breast cancer that arises from papillary structures within the ducts.

Oncogenes

Genes that have the potential to cause cancer when mutated or expressed at high levels.

Tumor suppressor genes

Genes that help regulate cell growth, and mutations can lead to cancer.

Proliferation rate

An indicator of how fast cells in a tumor are dividing, often reflected in prognosis.

Signet ring cell carcinoma

A rare and aggressive type of breast cancer featuring cells that appear similar to signet rings under the microscope.

Lymphatic involvement

The spread of cancer cells through the lymphatic system to lymph nodes or other organs.

Cystic change

A condition characterized by the formation of cysts within breast tissue.

Ductal ectasia

A condition in which a duct beneath the nipple dilates, fills with fluid, and potentially thickens.

Fibrovascular core

The supportive structure of blood vessels and connective tissue found in certain tumors.

Desmoplastic reaction

The dense fibrous tissue response often seen in reaction to tumors.

Histologic appearance

The microscopic characteristics of a tissue sample under examination.

Tumor margins

The borders/edges of a tumor, which can indicate its invasiveness and surgical resectability.

Metastasis

The spread of cancer cells from the original tumor site to other parts of the body.

Stroma

The supportive tissue surrounding and supporting the functional tissues in an organ.

Risk assessment

The evaluation of factors that can influence the likelihood of developing a disease.

Clinical presentation

The overall appearance and set of symptoms a patient shows, relevant for diagnosis.

Genetic mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence of a gene, which can contribute to cancer development.

Hormone receptors

Proteins that bind hormones, influencing growth and response to treatment in certain breast cancers.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)

A treatment used to alleviate symptoms of menopause, which can influence breast cancer risk.

Triple-negative breast cancer

A type of breast cancer that does not have estrogen or progesterone receptors and does not overexpress HER2.

Diagnosis

The process of identifying a disease or condition from its signs and symptoms.

Surgical excision

The procedure of removing tumor tissue from the body to treat or prevent cancer.

Ultrasound

An imaging technique using sound waves to create images of breast tissue, often used in diagnosis.

Breast density

The amount of fibrous and glandular tissue compared to fatty tissue in the breast.

Prognosis

A prediction of the likely outcome or course of a disease.

Core needle biopsy

A diagnostic procedure using a hollow needle to remove tissue samples from the breast for examination.

Excisional biopsy

Surgical removal of an entire suspicious area or lump from the breast for diagnostic and often therapeutic purposes.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA)

A minimally invasive procedure to collect a small sample of cells from a breast mass using a very thin needle.

Breast MRI

An advanced imaging technique that uses strong magnets and radio waves to produce highly detailed images of breast tissue, often used for screening high-risk individuals or staging cancer.

TNM staging system

A standardized system used to describe the extent of cancer, evaluating the size of the primary tumor (T), involvement of regional lymph Nodes, and presence or absence of distant Metastasis.

Progesterone Receptor (PR) positive

Breast cancers whose cells have receptors that can bind to the hormone progesterone, indicating potential responsiveness to hormone therapy.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

Genes that, when mutated, significantly increase a person's lifetime risk of developing breast, ovarian, and other cancers.

Chemotherapy

A systemic cancer treatment involving potent drugs that kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells, throughout the body.

Radiation therapy

A localized cancer treatment that uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells or inhibit their growth.

Hormone therapy (Endocrine therapy)

Treatment that blocks or removes hormones to slow or stop the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers.

Targeted therapy

Cancer treatment that specifically identifies and attacks cancer cells based on their unique molecular characteristics, while minimizing harm to normal cells.

Immunotherapy

A type of cancer treatment that boosts the body's natural defenses to fight cancer by using substances made by the body or in a laboratory.

Mastectomy

A surgical procedure to remove the entire breast, typically performed to treat or prevent breast cancer.

Lumpectomy (Breast-conserving surgery)

A surgical procedure to remove only the cancerous lump and a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue, preserving most of the breast.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)

A procedure to identify, remove, and examine the sentinel lymph node(s) — the first lymph node(s) to which cancer cells are likely to spread from the primary tumor.

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)

A surgical procedure to remove a significant number of lymph nodes from the armpit (axilla) to check for cancer spread, often performed if sentinel nodes are positive.

Calcifications

Small deposits of calcium salts that can be seen on mammograms; their pattern and distribution help distinguish between benign and potentially malignant processes.

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI)

The presence of tumor cells within the lymphatic or blood vessels, indicating a higher risk of metastasis.

HER2/neu gene amplification

An increase in the number of copies of the HER2/neu gene within cancer cells, leading to overexpression of the HER2 protein and often indicating a more aggressive cancer.

Oncotype DX

A genomic test that analyzes the activity of certain genes in breast cancer tissue to predict the likelihood of cancer recurrence and the benefit of chemotherapy.