Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 6/7/2007

Question
QUESTION: My sister is 52yrs old and just recd the pathology results following her biopsy. It indicates infiltrating ductal carcinoma grade2, multiple foci of intraductal carcinoma, solid and cribriformtype with focal comedonecrosis. I have done some research. The surgeon said her prognosis is very good but some of the forementioned terms are bothersome. i.e. Infiltrating and comedonecrosis. If anyone can provide some feedback I would so appreciate it. Thank you

ANSWER: Infiltrating means that the tumor is invading its surrounding tissues. That is basic cancer behaviour - one of the characteristics that indicate that a cancer is a cancer. So nothing unexpected when you are dealing with a cancer. Comedonecrosis means that the tumor cells are filling up a milk duct and that some of them are dying from lack of mainly oxygen. That is also a rather typical cancer characteristic, of at least partly outgrowing its nutrition supply - mainly by outgrowing its blood supply. I do hope this explains it!


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much for your timely response. If I may ask one additional question. Does the fact that this is infiltrating greatly reduce her chance of recovering from this? I thank you in advance for your help during this very difficult time.

Answer
It does show that it is a cancer which in itself is worse news than if she had had a benign tumor that would not be much to worry about - if at all in any way. But to give you a better evaluation I would need to 1. read the whole pathology report, 2. read any mammography, ultrasound & MRI scan reports that may exist and also - if possible any surgical report from her operation. The information I have is far too scarce to form any basis of any opinion. If you can provide me with these reports I can most probably provide you with an evaluation.