Pathoma: Breast Pathology Flashcards
General
Breast
Mammary Gland
- Modified sweat gland embryologically derived from skin
- Breast tissue (and pathology) can develop anywhere along the milk line
- Milk line runs from axilla to vulva
- Functional unit of breast: terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU)
- Lobules make milk that drains via ducts to nipple
- Lobules & ducts are lined by 2 layers of epiehlium
- Luminal layer: inner layer; responsible for milk production
- Myoepithelial layer: outer layer; contractilons propel milk towards nipple
Breast
Terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU)
General
Breast
Hormone Sensitivity
Breast tissue is hormone sensitive
* Before puberty, male & female breast tissue primarily consists of large ducts under nipple
* Development after menarche is primarily driven by estrogen & progesterone
* Lobules & small ducts form and are present in highest density in the upper outer quadrant
* Breast tenderness during menstrual cycle is a common complaint, especially prior to menstruation
* During pregnancy, breast lobules undergo hyperplasia
* Hyperplasia is driven by estrogen & progesterone produced by the corpus luteum (early 1st trimester), fetus, and placenta (later in pregnancy
* After menopause, breast tissue undergoes atrophy
General
Galactorrhea
Milk production outside of lactation
* Not a symptom of breast cancer
* Causes include:
* Nipple stimulation
* Normal, physiologic cause
* Prolactinoma of anterior pituitary
* Common pathologic cause
* Drugs
Inflammatory Conditions
Bacterial infection associated with breast-feeding
* Fissures develop in nipple providing route of entry for microbes
Pathophysiology
Acute mastitis
Inflammatory Conditions
Usually due to S. aureus
Etiology
Acute mastitis
Inflammatory Conditions
Presents as a warm, erythematous breast with purulent nipple discharge
* May progress to abscess formatiom
Clinical Presentation
Acute mastitis
Inflammatory Conditions
Treatement of acute mastitis
Approach to Therapy
- Continued drainage
- e.g., feeding
- Antibiotics
- e.g., dicloxacillin
Inflammatory Conditions
Inflammation of subareolar ducts
Pathophysiology
Periductal mastitis
Inflammatory Conditions
Usually seen in smokers
* Relative Vit A deficiency results in squamous metaplasia of laciferous ducts producing duct blockage & inflammation
Epidemiology
Periductal mastitis
Inflammatory Conditions
Presents as a subareolar mass with nipple retraction
Clinical Presentation
Periductal mastitis
Inflammatory Conditions
Inflammation with dilation (ectasia) of subareolar ducts
Pathophysiology
Mammary duct ectasia
Inflammatory Conditions
Rare; classically arises in multiparous post-menopausal women
Epidemiology
Mammary duct ectasia
Inflammatory Conditions
- Presents as a periareolar mass with green-brown nipple discharge (inflammatory debris)
- Chronic inflammation with plasma cells seen on biopsy
Clinical Presentation
Mammary duct ectasia
Green-brown nipple discharge = hallmark symptom
Inflammatory Conditions
Necrosis of breast fat
Pathophysiology
Fat necrosis
Inflammatory Conditions
Usually related to trauma
Etiology
Fat necrosis
Inflammatory Conditions
- Presents as a mass on physical exam or abnormal calcification on mammography
- Calcification due to saponification
- Biopsy shows necrotic fat associated with calcificatins & giant cells
Clinical Presentation
Fat necrosis
Inflammatory Conditions
Usually related to trauma
Etiology
Fat necrosis
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Development of fibrosis & cysts in breast
Pathophysiology
Fibrocystic change
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Most common change in premenopausal breast
* Thought to be hormone driven
Pathophysiology
Fibrocystic change
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Presents as vague irregularity of breast tissue (“lumpy breast”), usually in upper outer quadrant
Clinical Presentation
Fibrocystic change
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Cysts have blue-done appearance on gross exam
Gross Appearance
Fibrocystic change
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Benign, but some fibrocystic-related changes are a/w increased risk for invasive carcinoma
* Fibrosis, cysts, apocrine metaplasia: 0
* Ductal hyperplasia; sclerosing adenosis: 2x
* Atypical hyperplasia: 5x
Potential Complications
Fibrocystic change
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Fibrocystic change
Apocrine metaplasia, abundant pink cytoplasm; no increased cancer risk
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Papillary growth, usually into large duct
* Characterized by FV projections lined by epithelial (luminal) & myoepithelial cells
Histopathology
Intraductal papilloma
Papilloma = benign
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Classically presents as bloody nipple discharge in premenopausal woman
Clinical Presentation
Intraductal papilloma
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Intraductal papilloma
Approach to Diagnosis
- Must be distinguished from papillary carcinoma
- Papillary carcinoma also presents as bloody nipple discharge
- Histology: no underlying myoepithelial cells
- Epidemiology: more common in postmenopausal women
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Tumor of fibrous tissue & glands
* Estrogen sensitive: grows during pregnancy; may be painful during menstrual cycle
Histopathology
Fibroadenoma
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
- Most common benign neoplasm of the breast
- Usually seen in premenopausal women
Epidemiology
Fibroadenoma
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Presents as a well-circumscribed, mobile marble-like mass
Clinical Presentation
Fibroadenoma
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Benign, with no increased risk of carcinoma
Potential Complications
Fibroadenoma
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Fibroadenoma
Fibrous tissue, glands; sharply demarcated from adjacent tissue
Benign Tumors & Fibrocystic Changes
Fibroadenoma-like tumor with overgrowth of fibrous componenet
* Characteristic “leaf-like” projections seen on biopsy
Histopathology
Phyllodes tumor
“Leaf-like” projections = histological hallmark