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Overdiagnosis of a Prognostically Favorable Neoplasm

Jami R. Rubens, MD; Kent B. Lewandrowski, MD; Daniel B. Kopans, MD; Frederick C. Koerner, MD; Deborah A. Hall, MD; Kathleen A. McCarthy, MD

Arch Surg. 1990;125(5):601-604.

Abstract
• 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.

(Arch Surg. 1990;125:601-604)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Radiology (Drs Rubens, Kopans, Hall, and McCarthy) and Pathology (Drs Lewandrowski and Koerner), Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication September 18, 1989.

Reprint requests to Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 14 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114 (Dr Rubens).

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