Pathology of preinvasive and excellent-prognosis breast cancer

Our review of recent developments in breast cancer emphasizes clinical util ity of tissue samples from patients, We highlight indicators of increased c ancer risk and lesions without metastatic capacity at time of detection (bu t of sufficient risk of attaining metastatic capacity that treatment is man dated, ie, ductal carcinoma in situ), This review also includes invasive le sions with little capacity for metastatic behavior and indicators of low ma lignant potential. Histologic criteria for their recognition, as well as bi ologic and clinical characterization, are discussed. Several papers reviewi ng the usefulness of histologic grading, emphasizing mitotic counts and def initions Of microinvasion, are included, Curr Opin Oncol 2000, 12:526-531 ( C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.