Medullary carcinoma of the breast. Overdiagnosis of a prognostically favorable neoplasm
J. R. Rubens, K. B. Lewandrowski, D. B. Kopans, F. C. Koerner, D. A. Hall and K. A. McCarthy
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
We reviewed 30 cases of breast cancer originally diagnosed as medullary
carcinoma during a 10-year period. Of the 30, only 9 proved to be "typical
medullary carcinoma" with the associated favorable prognosis. Seven of the
remaining 21 cancers were reclassified as "atypical medullary carcinoma,"
and the remaining 14 were nonmedullary cancers. Overdiagnosis of medullary
carcinoma could lead to inappropriately conservative therapy, since
medullary carcinoma is a prognostically favorable neoplasm. Those involved
with diagnosis and treatment of patients with breast cancer should be aware
of this potential problem.
