Shahla Masood
University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, USA Shands Jacksonville Breast Health Center, USA
Title: Should we use the term “borderline breast disease†instead of low grade ductal carcinoma in-situ in breast core needle biopsy?
Biography
Biography: Shahla Masood
Abstract
During the last several years, increased public awareness, advances in breast imaging and enhanced screening programs have led to early breast cancer detection and attention to cancer prevention. The numbers of image-detected biopsies have increased and pathologists are expected to provide more information with smaller tissue samples. These biopsies have resulted in detection of increasing numbers of high-risk proliferative breast disease and in-situ cancers. The general hypothesis is that some forms of breast cancers may arise from established forms of ductal carcinoma insitu (DCIS) and atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and possibly from more common forms of ductal hyperplasia. However, this is an oversimplification of a very complex process, given the fact that the majority of breast cancers appears to arise de-novo or from a yet unknown precursor lesion. Currently, ADH and DCIS are considered as morphologic risk factors and precursor lesions for breast cancer. However, morphologic distinction between these two entities has remained a real issue that continues to lead to overdiagnoses and overtreatment. Aside from morphologic similarities between ADH and low grade DCIS, biomarker studies and molecular genetic testings have shown that morphologic overlaps are reflected at the molecular levels and raise questions about the validity of separating these two entities. It is hoped that as we better understand the genetic basis of these entities in relation to ultimate patient outcome, the suggested use of the term of “borderline breast disease” can minimize the number of patients who are subjected to overtreatment.