title: Infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the breast (ILC). Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.
abstract: Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast (ILC) is the second most common form of mammary neoplasm after ductal carcinoma. Due to its histological features, characterised by a diffuse infiltration of the tissue by malignant cells with scarce fibrotic reaction, lobular carcinoma often presents clinical and instrumental diagnostic difficulties. The Authors present a retrospective series of 28 patients with lobular carcinoma, with special regard to the diagnostic work-up. Clinical examination misdiagnosed 10 cases, in which only a mild thickening of the breast parenchyma was present. Mammographic false negatives were 21.4% (6 cases). Ultrasonography allowed correct diagnosis in 5 out of these 6 cases. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) had low sensitivity (33% false negatives). ILC constitutes a diagnostic challenge, often requiring the combination of multiple diagnostic tools.
authors.affiliation: Gynecological Department University La Sapienza, Rome.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Framarino Dei Malatesta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorelli
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bandiera
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veneziano
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Galati
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Porfiri
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography