Sclerosing lesions of the breast

Semin Diagn Pathol. 2004 Feb;21(1):42-7. doi: 10.1053/j.semdp.2003.10.004.

Abstract

Sclerosing lesions of the breast often mimic invasive carcinoma at the gross and microscopic levels and can pose a significant diagnostic challenge for surgical pathologists. This brief review is devoted to the histopathological characterization of 2 such sclerosing lesions of the breast: radial scars and sclerosing nipple adenomas. Microscopically, these lesions show similar morphological features: a zonal architectural pattern consisting of a central sclerotic region with entrapped distorted glands and a corona-like peripheral region with associated nonproliferative and proliferative fibrocystic changes. Important diagnostic features of these lesions are highlighted and contrasted with those of invasive carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Breast Diseases / pathology*
  • Cicatrix / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Nipples / pathology
  • Sclerosis / pathology*