Invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

Invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast
Diagnosis in short
Invasive ductal carcinoma. H&E stain.
LM DDx	DCIS, invasive lobular carcinoma
EM	usu. ER and PR +ve, usu. HER2 -ve, mammaglobin +ve, CK7 +ve, CK20 -ve
Grossing notes	breast grossing
Staging	breast cancer staging
Site	breast
Signs	+/-palpable breast mass
Prevalence	common
Prognosis	dependent on stage and grade, good to poor
Clin. DDx	other breast tumours

Invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, also breast invasive ductal carcinoma, is the most common form of invasive breast cancer. It may arise from ductal carcinoma in situ.

It is also known as breast carcinoma of NST (No Specific/Special Type). Some pathologists prefer this terminology as the sub-typing of breast carcinoma essentially involves exclusion of special types, identified by certain characteristic features. It is also a more appropriate term for high grade tumours which typically lack any acinar or ductal differentiation.

Generically, it may be referred to as invasive mammary carcinoma. In the context of the breast, the meaning of invasive ductal carcinoma is clear; if the context is not the breast, it may refer to other (unrelated) cancers.

General

• Most common type of invasive breast cancer.

The WHO bluebook classifies certain breast carcinomas as 'special' types, if they show certain characteristic histological features. These special types are sometimes loosely included in the loose label of invasive ductal carcinoma to distinguish them from invasive lobular carcinoma. These include (see individual pages for specific features):

• Tubular carcinoma
• Cribriform carcinoma
• Apocrine carcinoma
• Mucinous carcinoma
• Micropapillary/papillary carcinoma
• Medullary-like carcinoma
• Metaplastic carcinoma

If a >90% of a tumour is composed of a 'special type', it is considered pure and labelled as in the list above. If one of the special types accounts for 50%, then is is classed as a mixed tumour, e.g. invasive carcinoma of mixed mucinous and no special type. All other tumours are classed as invasive carcinoma of no special type.

Molecular sub-typing through gene expression analysis suggests that are at least 5 distinct types.

Gross

• White, firm stellate lesion.

• 

  Ductal carcinoma. (WC)

Microscopic

The histological features are highly variable. They are typically graded using the modified Bloom-Richardson grading system, sometimes toponymously referred to as the Nottingham grading system. This has 3 components: tubule formation, nuclear pleomorphism and a mitotic count. Each of the 3 components is scored between 1 and 3 with a final score out of 9.

• Atypical cells:
  • Usually >2x RBC diameter, but may be bland, especially in tubular carcinomas
  • Nucleoli common.
  • Forming ducts or sheets.
  • +/-Mitoses.
  • +/-Necrosis.
• Evidence of invasion:
  • Atypical nucleus adjacent to adipocyte - diagnostic.
  • "Infiltrative" pattern:
    • Small glands of variable size within desmoplastic stroma.
    • Glands lined by a single layer of cells.

DDx:

• DCIS.
• Invasive lobular carcinoma.

IHC

Myoepithelial markers - diagnostic for invasion:

• SMMS -ve.
• p63 -ve.

Prognostic markers are performed to guide treatment

• ER - about 75% are positive (typically assessed using the Allred/Quick score)
• PR staining is more variable, but ER-/PR+ tumours are rare (<1%), so some question the value of PR staining
• HER2 - about 15-20% are positive
• Ki67 - this correlates with prognosis, but lack of standardisation in quantification hampers more widespread use

Invasive lobular carcinoma versus invasive ductal carcinoma:

• E-cadherin typically shows strong membranous positivity in invasive ductal/NST carcinoma
• However, up to 3-5% may be negative, especially higher grade tumours
• Invasive lobular carcinoma is typically negative, but up to 15% may show some staining (though typically weak/incomplete)

Images

• 

  IDC HER2 positive.

• 

  Tubular carcinoma - medium mag. (WC)

• 

  Mucinous carcinoma - medium mag. (WC)

• 

  Micropapillary carcinoma - medium mag. (WC)

• 

  Apocrine carcinoma - medium mag. (WC)

• 

  Metaplastic carcinoma - medium mag. (WC)

See also

• Invasive breast cancer.
• DCIS.