Sharing the results of biopsies

When dividing the results of biopsies into non-proliferative changes, proliferative changes without atypia, and atypical proliferative changes, a low-risk breast cancer (BC) group can be identified. Given additional risk factors, such as heredity and age, subgroups with a significantly increased risk of breast cancer (BC) can be identified.

In 1985, the Cancer Committee of American College of Pathology published a concerted decision and recognized the term “fibrocystic mastopathy” as incorrect. The committee recommends the use of the term “fibrocystic changes” or “fibrocystic conditions.”

Epithelial hyperplasia was classified as a risk factor. Mild hyperplasia was determined at an epithelium thickness of more than two, but less than four cells. The terms “moderate hyperplasia” and “progressive hyperplasia” refer to a more pronounced degree of proliferative activity of the epithelium. In the absence of atypical hyperplasia, mild hyperplasia does not increase the risk of invasive cancer. Moderate or progressive hyperplasia without atypia causes a slight increase (1.5-2 times) in the risk of an invasive tumor.

Atypical hyperplasia is a lesion that has some signs of CIS, which, however, is not sufficient for an unambiguous diagnosis of CIS. And although in women with atypical hyperplasia there is a moderately increased risk of invasive tumors, the relative risk with a lesser degree of atypia (mild and moderate) has not yet been established. CIS is considered an extreme manifestation of atypical hyperplasia. In women with a diagnosis of CIS, confirmed by biopsy, the risk of invasive cancer is higher (8-10 times) compared with women with a similar clinical picture, who have not received breast biopsy data confirming this diagnosis.

Thus, apparently, the use of classification with division into non-proliferative disorders, proliferative disorders without atypia and atypical proliferative disorders corresponds to the probability of malignancy of these conditions. The table below presents the benign breast diseases that are detected most frequently.