Sampling and Evaluation of the Breast Surgical Specimens

Abstract

Breast biopsies are common surgical specimens to search for possible cancer via evaluation of palpable masses, radiologic lesions, or nipple discharge. It is crucial for the pathologist to have the knowledge of all the breast specimens that could be received, and the best manner to process them, in order to provide accurate information about the diagnosis, prognostic factors (e.g., tumor staging, histologic type, precursor lesions, etc.) and assessment of treatment response. Appropriate grossing of breast specimens is indeed a cornerstone for achieving a quality diagnosis. We also must consider that grossing of breast specimens has been evolving over the past few decades. As image-guided core-needle biopsy has gradually replaced surgical biopsy in the initial assessment of breast lesions, most patients have a definitive diagnosis at the time of excision.