Tubular carcinoma of the breast: A histologic subtype indicative of breast-conserving therapy

We reviewed the clinical and pathologic features of pure tubular carcinoma of the breast with particular emphasis on the reported risk factors associa ted with local recurrences and survival following breast-conserving therapy . Of 1653 cases of invasive breast cancer, 12 (0.7%) were identified as pur e tubular carcinoma. Clinical/pathologic features of pure tubular carcinoma were compared with those of T1 invasive carcinoma of all other histologic types (T1 IC). Of the 12 patients with pure tubular carcinoma (median tumor diameter 1.4cm; range 0.5-3.0cm), a multicentric association was identifie d in one patient while a multifocal association was seen in two. One patien t had nodal metastatic disease out of the ten who underwent axillary dissec tion. No lymphatic vessel invasion was identified in any tumors (P < 0.1 vs T1 IC). In addition, extensive intraductal spread was not present in any t umors (P < 0.05 vs T1 IC). This study shows that patients with pure tubular carcinoma are appropriate candidates for breast-conserving therapy based o n the clinical/pathologic features. When a multifocal association is suspec ted preoperatively, either a wide local excision or a quadrantectomy which includes other lesions is thus recommended.