Recent Contributions to Our Knowledge about the Pathology of Breast Cancer

Much of our knowledge concerning the pathology of breast cancer in humans has been gained from the study of this disease by the methods of classical morphology. This has resulted in a wealth of information on the various histologic types of malignant neoplasms of breast, their patterns of growth and modes of spread, and finally their prognosis based on careful and extensive correlative clinicopathologic studies. Despite these many advances it is clear that our knowledge of this disease is still far from complete. Recent studies employing the tools of classical morphology and those which extend its limits, such as electron microscopy, cytochemistry and immunochemistry, have added new knowledge and in certain instances challenged some of the old. The purpose of this communication will be to review some of the contributions made during the past five years as seen from the perspective of a general pathologist.