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WHO classification of tumors of the breast

Changed by Francis Deng, 2 Sep 2019
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The World Health Organisation classification of tumors of the breast is the most widely used pathologic classification system for such disorders. The current revision, part of the 4th edition of the WHO series, was published in 2012 and is reflected in the article below 1.

Classification

Epithelial tumors
Invasive breast carcinoma
  • invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (NST)
    • pleomorphic carcinoma
    • carcinoma with osteoclast-like stromal giant cells
    • carcinoma with choriocarcinomatous features
    • carcinoma with melanotic features​
  • invasive lobular carcinoma
    • classic lobular carcinoma
    • solid lobular carcinoma
    • alveolar lobular carcinoma
    • pleomorphic lobular carcinoma
    • tubulolobular carcinoma
    • mixed lobular carcinoma
  • tubular carcinoma
  • cribriform carcinoma
  • mucinous carcinoma
  • carcinoma with medullary features
    • medullary carcinoma
    • atypical medullary carcinoma
    • invasive carcinoma of no special type with medullary features
  • carcinoma with apocrine differentiation
  • carcinoma with signet-ring-cell differentiation
  • invasive micropapillary carcinoma
  • metaplastic carcinoma
    • metaplastic carcinoma of no special type
    • low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma
    • fibromatosis-like metaplastic carcinoma
    • squamous cell carcinoma
    • spindle cell carcinoma
    • metaplastic carcinoma with mesenchymal differentiation
      • chondroid differentiation
      • osseous differentiation
      • other types of mesenchymal differentiation
    • mixed metaplastic carcinoma
    • myoepithelial carcinoma
  • rare types
    • carcinoma with neuroendocrine features
      • neuroendocrine tumor, well-differentiated
      • neuroendocrine carcinoma, poorly differentiated (small cell carcinoma)
      • carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation
    • secretory carcinoma
    • invasive papillary carcinoma
    • acinic cell carcinoma
    • mucoepidermoid carcinoma
    • polymorphous carcinoma
    • oncocytic carcinoma
    • lipid-rich carcinoma
    • glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma
    • sebaceous carcinoma
    • salivary gland/skin adnexal type tumours
      • cylindroma
      • clear cell hidradenoma
Epithelial-myoepithelial tumors
Precursor lesions
Intraductal proliferative lesions
Papillary lesions
Benign epithelial proliferations
Mesenchymal tumours
Fibroepithelial tumours
Tumours of the nipple
Malignant lymphoma
Metastatic tumors
Tumours of the male breast
Clinical patterns

See also
  • -<p>The <strong>World Health Organisation classification of tumors of the breast</strong> is the most widely used pathologic classification system for such disorders. The current revision, part of the 4<sup>th</sup> edition of the WHO series, was published in 2012 and is reflected in the article below <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Classification</h4><h5>Epithelial tumors</h5><ul><li>microinvasive carcinoma</li></ul><h6>Invasive breast carcinoma</h6><ul>
  • +<p>The <strong>World Health Organisation classification of tumors of the breast</strong> is the most widely used pathologic classification system for such disorders. The current revision, part of the 4<sup>th</sup> edition of the WHO series, was published in 2012 and is reflected in the article below <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Classification</h4><h5>Epithelial tumors</h5><ul><li><a href="/articles/microinvasive-carcinoma-of-the-breast">microinvasive carcinoma</a></li></ul><h6>Invasive breast carcinoma</h6><ul>
  • -<a title="Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type" href="/articles/invasive-ductal-carcinoma">invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (NST)</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="pleomorphic carcinoma of breast" href="/articles/pleomorphic-carcinoma-of-breast">pleomorphic carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<a href="/articles/invasive-ductal-carcinoma">invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (NST)</a><ul>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/pleomorphic-carcinoma-of-breast">pleomorphic carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<a title="Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast" href="/articles/invasive-lobular-carcinoma-of-the-breast">invasive lobular carcinoma</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/invasive-lobular-carcinoma-of-the-breast">invasive lobular carcinoma</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="Tubular carcinoma of the breast" href="/articles/tubular-carcinoma-of-the-breast">tubular carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="cribriform carcinoma" href="/articles/cribriform-carcinoma">cribriform carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Mucinous carcinoma of the breast" href="/articles/mucinous-carcinoma-of-the-breast">mucinous carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/tubular-carcinoma-of-the-breast">tubular carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/cribriform-carcinoma">cribriform carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/mucinous-carcinoma-of-the-breast">mucinous carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<a title="carcinoma with medullary features" href="/articles/carcinoma-with-medullary-features">carcinoma with medullary features</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="Medullary carcinoma of the breast" href="/articles/medullary-carcinoma-of-the-breast">medullary carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<a href="/articles/carcinoma-with-medullary-features">carcinoma with medullary features</a><ul>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/medullary-carcinoma-of-the-breast">medullary carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Apocrine carcinoma of the breast" href="/articles/apocrine-carcinoma-of-the-breast">carcinoma with apocrine differentiation</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/apocrine-carcinoma-of-the-breast">carcinoma with apocrine differentiation</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="invasive micropapillary carcinoma" href="/articles/invasive-micropapillary-carcinoma">invasive micropapillary carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/invasive-micropapillary-carcinoma">invasive micropapillary carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<a title="Metaplastic carcinoma of breast" href="/articles/metaplastic-breast-carcinoma">metaplastic carcinoma</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/metaplastic-breast-carcinoma">metaplastic carcinoma</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="pleomorphic adenoma of the breast" href="/articles/pleomorphic-adenoma-of-the-breast">pleomorphic adenoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/pleomorphic-adenoma-of-the-breast">pleomorphic adenoma</a></li>
  • -<a title="adenomyoepithelioma" href="/articles/adenomyoepithelioma">adenomyoepithelioma</a><ul><li>adenomyoepithelioma with carcinoma</li></ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/adenomyoepithelioma">adenomyoepithelioma</a><ul><li>adenomyoepithelioma with carcinoma</li></ul>
  • -<li><a title="Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast" href="/articles/adenoid-cystic-carcinoma-of-the-breast">adenoid cystic carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/adenoid-cystic-carcinoma-of-the-breast">adenoid cystic carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Ductal carcinoma in situ" href="/articles/ductal-carcinoma-in-situ">ductal carcinoma in situ</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/ductal-carcinoma-in-situ">ductal carcinoma in situ</a></li>
  • -<a title="Lobular neoplasia of breast" href="/articles/lobular-breast-carcinoma">lobular neoplasia</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/lobular-breast-carcinoma">lobular neoplasia</a><ul>
  • -<a title="Lobular carcinoma in situ" href="/articles/lobular-carcinoma-in-situ">lobular carcinoma in situ</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/lobular-carcinoma-in-situ">lobular carcinoma in situ</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="Atypical lobular hyperplasia" href="/articles/atypical-lobular-hyperplasia">atypical lobular hyperplasia</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/atypical-lobular-hyperplasia">atypical lobular hyperplasia</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="usual ductal hyperplasia" href="/articles/usual-ductal-hyperplasia">usual ductal hyperplasia</a></li>
  • -<li>columnar cell lesions including <a title="flat epithelial atypia" href="/articles/flat-epithelial-atypia">flat epithelial atypia</a>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/usual-ductal-hyperplasia">usual ductal hyperplasia</a></li>
  • +<li>columnar cell lesions including <a href="/articles/flat-epithelial-atypia">flat epithelial atypia</a>
  • -<li><a title="Atypical ductal hyperplasia" href="/articles/atypical-ductal-hyperplasia">atypical ductal hyperplasia</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/atypical-ductal-hyperplasia">atypical ductal hyperplasia</a></li>
  • -<a title="Intraductal papilloma of breast" href="/articles/intraductal-papilloma-of-breast">intraductal papilloma</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/intraductal-papilloma-of-breast">intraductal papilloma</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="intraductal papillary carcinoma" href="/articles/intraductal-papillary-carcinoma">intraductal papillary carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/intraductal-papillary-carcinoma">intraductal papillary carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<a title="Intracystic papillary carcinoma (breast)" href="/articles/intracystic-papillary-carcinoma-breast">encapsulated papillary carcinoma</a><ul><li>encapsulated papillary carcinoma with invasion</li></ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/intracystic-papillary-carcinoma-breast">encapsulated papillary carcinoma</a><ul><li>encapsulated papillary carcinoma with invasion</li></ul>
  • -<a title="Papillary carcinoma of the breast" href="/articles/papillary-carcinoma-of-the-breast">solid papillary carcinoma</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/papillary-carcinoma-of-the-breast">solid papillary carcinoma</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="Sclerosing adenosis of the breast" href="/articles/sclerosing-adenosis-of-the-breast">sclerosing adenosis</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="apocrine adenosis" href="/articles/apocrine-adenosis">apocrine adenosis</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="microglandular adenosis" href="/articles/microglandular-adenosis">microglandular adenosis</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Radial scar" href="/articles/radial-scar">radial scar/complex sclerosing lesion</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/sclerosing-adenosis-of-the-breast">sclerosing adenosis</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/apocrine-adenosis">apocrine adenosis</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/microglandular-adenosis">microglandular adenosis</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/radial-scar">radial scar/complex sclerosing lesion</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Tubular adenoma of the breast" href="/articles/tubular-adenoma-of-the-breast-1">tubular adenoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Lactating adenoma" href="/articles/lactating-adenoma">lactating adenoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="apocrine adenoma" href="/articles/apocrine-adenoma">apocrine adenoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Ductal adenoma of the breast" href="/articles/ductal-adenoma-of-the-breast-1">ductal adenoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/tubular-adenoma-of-the-breast-1">tubular adenoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/lactating-adenoma">lactating adenoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/apocrine-adenoma">apocrine adenoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/ductal-adenoma-of-the-breast-1">ductal adenoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Nodular fasciitis" href="/articles/nodular-fasciitis">nodular fasciitis</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="myofibroblastoma" href="/articles/myofibroblastoma">myofibroblastoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="desmoid-type fibromatosis" href="/articles/desmoid-type-fibromatosis">desmoid-type fibromatosis</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour" href="/articles/inflammatory-myofibroblastic-tumour">inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/nodular-fasciitis">nodular fasciitis</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/myofibroblastoma">myofibroblastoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/fibromatosis-of-the-breast">desmoid-type fibromatosis</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/inflammatory-myofibroblastic-tumour">inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Hemangioma of breast" href="/articles/breast-venous-malformation">hemangioma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="angiomatosis of the breast" href="/articles/angiomatosis-of-the-breast">angiomatosis</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/breast-venous-malformation">hemangioma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/angiomatosis-of-the-breast">angiomatosis</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia" href="/articles/pseudoangiomatous-stromal-hyperplasia">pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Granular cell tumour of the breast" href="/articles/granular-cell-tumour-of-the-breast">granular cell tumour</a></li>
  • -<li>benign <a title="Peripheral nerve sheath tumours" href="/articles/peripheral-nerve-sheath-tumours">peripheral nerve-sheath tumours</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="Neurofibroma" href="/articles/neurofibroma">neurofibroma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Schwannoma" href="/articles/schwannoma">schwannoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/pseudoangiomatous-stromal-hyperplasia">pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/granular-cell-tumour-of-the-breast">granular cell tumour</a></li>
  • +<li>benign <a href="/articles/peripheral-nerve-sheath-tumours">peripheral nerve-sheath tumours</a><ul>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/neurofibromatosis-type-1-breast-manifestations-1">neurofibroma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/schwannoma">schwannoma</a></li>
  • -<a title="Lipoma of breast" href="/articles/breast-lipoma">lipoma</a><ul><li><a title="Angiolipoma" href="/articles/angiolipoma">angiolipoma</a></li></ul>
  • -</li>
  • -<li><a title="Liposarcoma" href="/articles/liposarcoma">liposarcoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Angiosarcoma of breast" href="/articles/angiosarcoma-of-breast">angiosarcoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Rhabdomyosarcoma" href="/articles/rhabdomyosarcoma">rhabdomyosarcoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Primary osteosarcoma (breast)" href="/articles/primary-osteosarcoma-breast">osteosarcoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Leiomyoma" href="/articles/leiomyoma">leiomyoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Leiomyosarcoma" href="/articles/leiomyosarcoma">leiomyosarcoma</a></li>
  • +<a href="/articles/breast-lipoma">lipoma</a><ul><li><a href="/articles/angiolipoma">angiolipoma</a></li></ul>
  • +</li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/liposarcoma">liposarcoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/angiosarcoma-of-breast">angiosarcoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/rhabdomyosarcoma">rhabdomyosarcoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/primary-osteosarcoma-breast">osteosarcoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/leiomyoma">leiomyoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/leiomyosarcoma">leiomyosarcoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Fibroadenoma (breast)" href="/articles/fibroadenoma-breast">fibroadenoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/fibroadenoma-breast">fibroadenoma</a></li>
  • -<a title="Phyllodes tumour" href="/articles/phyllodes-tumour">phyllodes tumour</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/phyllodes-tumour">phyllodes tumour</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="Malignant phyllodes tumour" href="/articles/malignant-phyllodes-tumour">malignant</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/malignant-phyllodes-tumour">malignant</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Breast hamartoma" href="/articles/breast-hamartoma">hamartoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/breast-hamartoma">hamartoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Nipple adenoma" href="/articles/nipple-adenoma">nipple adenoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="syringomatous tumour" href="/articles/syringomatous-tumour">syringomatous tumour</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Paget disease of the nipple" href="/articles/paget-disease-breast">Paget disease of the nipple</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/nipple-adenoma">nipple adenoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a title="Infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the nipple" href="/articles/infiltrating-syringomatous-adenoma-of-the-nipple">syringomatous tumour</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/paget-disease-breast">Paget disease of the nipple</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="diffuse large B-cell lymphoma" href="/articles/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma">diffuse large B-cell lymphoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Burkitt lymphoma" href="/articles/burkitt-lymphoma">Burkitt lymphoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="T-cell lymphoma" href="/articles/t-cell-lymphoma">T-cell lymphoma</a></li>
  • -<li>
  • -<a title="anaplastic large cell lymphoma" href="/articles/anaplastic-large-cell-lymphoma">anaplastic large cell lymphoma</a>, ALK-negative</li>
  • -<li><a title="MALT lymphoma" href="/articles/malt-lymphoma">extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Follicular lymphoma" href="/articles/follicular-lymphoma">follicular lymphoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma">diffuse large B-cell lymphoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/burkitt-lymphoma">Burkitt lymphoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/t-cell-lymphoma">T-cell lymphoma</a></li>
  • +<li>
  • +<a href="/articles/anaplastic-large-cell-lymphoma">anaplastic large cell lymphoma</a>, ALK-negative</li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/malt-lymphoma">extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/follicular-lymphoma">follicular lymphoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Gynaecomastia" href="/articles/gynaecomastia">gynaecomastia</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/gynaecomastia">gynaecomastia</a></li>
  • -<a title="Male breast cancer" href="/articles/male-breast-cancer">carcinoma</a><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/male-breast-cancer">carcinoma</a><ul>
  • -<li><a title="Inflammatory carcinoma of the breast" href="/articles/inflammatory-carcinoma-of-the-breast">inflammatory carcinoma</a></li>
  • -<li><a title="Bilateral breast cancer" href="/articles/synchronous-breast-cancer">bilateral breast carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/inflammatory-carcinoma-of-the-breast">inflammatory carcinoma</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/synchronous-breast-cancer">bilateral breast carcinoma</a></li>
  • +</ul><h4>See also</h4><ul>
  • +<li>
  • +<a href="/articles/breast-neoplasms">breast neoplasms</a> (overview)</li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/breast-lymphoma">breast lymphoma</a></li>

References changed:

  • 1. Sunil R. Lakhani, International Agency for Research on Cancer. WHO Classification of Tumours of the Breast. (2019) <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?vid=ISBN9789283224334">ISBN: 9789283224334</a><span class="ref_v4"></span>
  • 2. Sinn HP, Kreipe H. A Brief Overview of the WHO Classification of Breast Tumors, 4th Edition, Focusing on Issues and Updates from the 3rd Edition. (2013) Breast care (Basel, Switzerland). 8 (2): 149-54. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1159/000350774">doi:10.1159/000350774</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24415964">Pubmed</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683948/">Pubmed Central</a>

Sections changed:

  • Classifications

Systems changed:

  • Breast

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