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The prognostic importance of syncytial growth pattern in medullary carcinoma of the breast
Author(s) -
Pedersen LISE,
SchiØDt TORBEN,
Holck SUSANNE,
Zedeler KARIN
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1990.tb05016.x
Subject(s) - medullary cavity , medullary carcinoma , population , breast carcinoma , carcinoma , oncology , medicine , pathology , breast cancer , cancer , environmental health , thyroid , thyroid carcinoma
The histopathological criteria for medullary carcinoma of the breast (MC) used by most pathologists today were delineated by Ridolfi et al. in 1977. The prime criterion is: “A predominantly syncytial growth pattern”, predominantly being defined as including 75% or more of the tumour. However, no indication has been given as to why this limit was set at 75%. The present study analyzes the prognostic importance of the extent of syncytial growth in a population of 102 breast cancers with medullary features. Generally, we find a positive prognostic influence of an extensive syncytial growth. The prognostic importance of setting the limit for predominantly syncytial growth at 90% and at 75%, respectively, is evaluated. This comparative study provides no basis for changing the definition of predominantly syncytial growth pattern.