Question
Least desmoplastic breast carcinoma is
| A. |
Ductal |
| B. |
Lobular |
| C. |
Tubular |
| D. |
Medullary |
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer » D Explanation |
 |
- Medullary carcinomais characterized by:
- Syncytial sheets of large high-grade tumor cells.
- Dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate.
- Well-circumscribed (pushing) margins.
- Minimal or absent desmoplastic stromal reaction.
- Because of the lack of desmoplasia, medullary carcinoma appears softer and better circumscribed than most other invasive breast cancers.
- Therefore, medullary carcinoma exhibits the least desmoplastic reaction.
Why Other Options are Incorrect
A. Invasive ductal carcinoma (No Special Type)
- The most common type of breast cancer.
- Produces a marked desmoplastic stromal response.
- Typically presents as a hard, irregular (scirrhous) mass.
B. Invasive lobular carcinoma
- Usually shows stromal fibrosis and infiltrates in single-file (“Indian file”) pattern.
- Desmoplasia is more prominent than in medullary carcinoma.
C. Tubular carcinoma
- Well-differentiated carcinoma with excellent prognosis.
- Although less pronounced than invasive ductal carcinoma, it still demonstrates a desmoplastic stromal reaction.
