Open AccessPathogenesis of breast carcinoma
Author(s) -
Fentiman Ian S.,
D'Arrigo Corrado
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1368-5031.2003.0091.x
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , malignancy , pathogenesis , breast lumps , breast carcinoma , carcinoma , carcinoma in situ , atypical hyperplasia , pathology , hyperplasia , cancer , oncology
Summary Breast cancer usually develops after a series of epithelial changes in the terminal ductolobular unit. There are multiple benign causes of breast lumps, the majority of which are not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Histological changes of pre‐malignancy such as atypical hyperplasia and in situ carcinoma can be identified, and these are indications for either close surveillance or further surgery. At the time of diagnosis, breast cancers can be staged both clinically and pathologically, and this facilitates international comparisons of results of treatment.