Abstract
The postnatal development of the mammary gland is a very complicated process orchestrated mainly by the concerted efforts of systemic steroids, peptide hormones, as well as local growth factors [1–3]. In the process which can span up to 50 years, the gland goes through four tightly regulated stages: ductal morphogenesis, lobuloalveolar development during pregnancy, synthesis and secretion of milk proteins and lipids at lactation, and involution following weaning. In addition, the ductal and lobular structures also undergo cyclic changes (proliferation and apoptosis) corresponding to the menstrual phases. Derived from the terminal end buds (TEB), the adult mammary functional and histological unit, terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU), is the site where most breast lesions arise. Upon close review of the TDLU, one could discern three distinct parts of the unit with each of them having their corresponding benign and neoplastic simulators (Fig. 10.1).
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Sun, X. (2015). Mammary Gland. In: Well-Differentiated Malignancies. Current Clinical Pathology. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1692-4_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1692-4_10
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