Breast Cancer/comedonecrosis

Advertisement

Expert: - 1/7/2007


Question
Please define the following terms for me:
1.  rare foci of comedonecrosis
2. Focal comedonecrosis
  (I do not know what comedonecrosis means and I don't know what the difference is between rare foci and focal)
3.  intraductal papillomatosis

These terms are on my pathology reports and I would appreciate it if you can define these for me.
thank you

Answer
I suppose that this is a breast cancer pathology report.
1. The cancer is growing into milk ducts filling them up. Inside these ducts there are a few places ("foci") but not many where the cancer cells have died off on their own - not an uncommon finding, cancers often outgrow their blood supply even on a microscopic scale so they starve off at least in parts.
2. Again places where cancer cells filling up milk ducts have died off. If they say focal they have seen a number of places where this has happened, not just a few.
3. A number of small (microscopic) warts inside milk ducts.

Breast Cancer

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

Expertise

I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.

Experience

I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Colon Cancer

Education/Credentials
I'm a medical doctor and specialist in medical oncology and radiation therapy.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.