Women's Health Breast Health and Breast Cancer

Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma www.woman-health.org

Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC), formed in the ducts of breast in the earlist stage, is the most common, most heterogeneous invasive breast cancer cell type. It accounts for 80% of all types of breast cancer. On a mammography, it is usually visualized as a mass with fine spikes radiating from the edges, and small microcalcification may be seen as well. On physical examination, this lump usually feels much harder or firmer than benign breast lesions. On microscopic examination, the cancerous cells invade and replace the surrounding normal tissue inside the breast.

Special histologic subtypes may vary in prognosis, survival, and recurrence rates: the ones with histology of mucinous, papillary, cribriform, and tubular carcinomas have a better prognosis, longer survival, and lower recurrence rates than those with histology like signet-ring cell carcinoma, carcinoma with sarcomatoid metaplasia, and inflammatory carcinoma.