Medullary breast carcinoma

Medullary carcinoma of the breast
Specialty	Oncology, pathology

Medullary breast carcinoma is a rare type of breast cancer^[1] that is characterized as a relatively circumscribed tumor ^[2] with pushing, rather than infiltrating, margins. It is histologically characterized as poorly differentiated cells with abundant cytoplasm and pleomorphic high grade vesicular nuclei.^[3] It involves lymphocytic (a type of white blood cell) infiltration^[4] in and around the tumor and can appear to be brown in appearance with necrosis and hemorrhage.^[5] Prognosis is measured through staging but can often be treated successfully and has a better prognosis than other infiltrating breast carcinomas.

Medullary breast carcinoma is one of five types of epithelial breast cancer: ductal, lobular, medullary, colloid, and tubular.^{[citation needed]} Very rare cases of it have been diagnosed in men (see male breast cancer).^[6]

Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is less commonly present, and medullary breast cancer presents as a soft, fleshy mass with a pushing border. Tumors commonly possess mutations of E-cadherin, which results in its overexpression. Strengthened adhesions between tumor cells reduce the frequency of metastasis.^{[citation needed]}