pathology
Last reviewed 01/2018
The tumour is well demarcated from the surrounding breast tissue by a condensed connective tissue capsule.
The tumour develops from a whole lobule and not from a single cell. Microscopically, the tumour comprises proliferation of the connective tissue stroma and atypical multiplication of ducts and acini.
Two histological patterns are noted:
- pericanicular - connective tissue stroma surrounds small islands of glandular tissue, in a whorled pattern
- intracanicular - connective tissue stroma predominates and compresses the gland spaces; the epithelial elements appear as narrow strands or cords of epithelium lying within the fibrous tissue