invasive lobular carcinoma of breast

Last reviewed 01/2018

Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast accounts for about 10% of all breast carcinoma. It may occur in combination with ductal carcinoma.

Clinically, it tends to present with distortion of the breast contour. Bilateral disease is more common than with ductal carcinoma in situ.

Macroscopically, it displays:

  • consistency rubbery
  • occasionally, hard or scirrhous

Histologically, there is:

  • strands of tumour cells:
    • small
    • uniform
    • little pleomorphism
  • loosely dispersed in fibrous stroma
  • occasionally encircle normal acini: characteristic "bull's eye" pattern

There are several histological types:

  • classical
  • solid
  • alveolar
  • mixed
  • pleomorphic