Current issues in diagnostic breast pathology

On behalf of the NHS Breast Screening Programme Pathology Coordinating Group we present recommendations for terminology and diagnostic criteria for a number of key areas of practice in breast pathology where terminology can be confusing and where accurate communication will ensure appropriate clinical management. These recommendations cover columnar cell lesions and the spectrum of changes that can be seen in these epithelial proliferations, lobular neoplasia, micrometastases and isolated tumour cells in axillary lymph nodes, the use of basal/myoepithelial markers in diagnostic practice and oestrogen receptor testing in ductal carcinoma in situ.

 Dall' abstract di Walker RA. et al, Current issues in diagnostic breast pathology.

Walker RA, Hanby A, Pinder SE, Thomas J, Ellis IO; National Coordinating Committee for Breast Pathology Research Subgroup, On behalf of members of the National Coordinating Committee for Breast Pathology. Current issues in diagnostic breast pathology. J Clin Pathol. 2012 Sep;65(9):771-85.

(A) Lactational changes can be mistaken for flat epithelial atypia and (B) in some rare variants show distinct cytological atypia. The epithelium tends to be cuboidal and the presence of foamy clear cytoplasm should alert one to this diagnosis (da Walker RA. et al.).