title: The prognostic importance of syncytial growth pattern in medullary carcinoma of the breast.
abstract: The histopathological criteria for medullary carcinoma of the breast (MC) used by most pathologists today were delineated by Ridolfi et al. in 1977. The prime criterion is: "A predominantly syncytial growth pattern", predominantly being defined as including 75% or more of the tumour. However, no indication has been given as to why this limit was set at 75%. The present study analyzes the prognostic importance of the extent of syncytial growth in a population of 102 breast cancers with medullary features. Generally, we find a positive prognostic influence of an extensive syncytial growth. The prognostic importance of setting the limit for predominantly syncytial growth at 90% and at 75%, respectively, is evaluated. This comparative study provides no basis for changing the definition of predominantly syncytial growth pattern.
authors: Department of Oncology, Finsen Institute/Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Pedersen
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Schiødt
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Holck
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Zedeler
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis