Breast Pathology

When your breast was biopsied, the samples taken were studied under the microscope by a specialized doctor with many years of training called a pathologist. The pathologist sends your doctor a report that gives a diagnosis for each sample taken. Information in this report will be used to help manage your care. The questions and answers that follow are meant to help you understand medical language you might find in the pathology report from a biopsy, such as a needle biopsy or an excision biopsy.

Understanding Your Pathology Report: Benign Breast Conditions

Benign changes can include adenosis, sclerosing adenosis, apocrine metaplasia, cysts, columnar cell change, columnar cell hyperplasia, collagenous spherulosis, duct ectasia, columnar cell change with prominent apical snouts and secretions (CAPSS), papillomatosis, or fibrocystic changes.

Understanding Your Pathology Report: Atypical Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia is a term used when there is an abnormal pattern of growth of cells within the ducts and/or lobules of the breast that is not cancerous. Some growths look more abnormal, and may be called atypical hyperplasia.

Understanding Your Pathology Report: Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

This term is used for the earliest stage of breast cancer, when it is confined to the layer of cells where it began.

Understanding Your Pathology Report: Lobular Carcinoma In Situ

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a type of in situ carcinoma of the breast, but it is not considered a pre-cancer.

Understanding Your Pathology Report: Breast Cancer

Carcinoma is a term used to describe a cancer that begins in the lining layer (epithelial cells) of organs like the breast. Nearly all breast cancers are carcinomas. Most are the type of carcinoma that starts in glandular tissue called adenocarcinoma.