Definition of Lobular carcinoma of the breast, infiltrating
Lobular carcinoma of the breast, infiltrating: Infiltrating lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of invasive breast cancer next to infiltrating ductal carcinoma, accounting for 5 to 10% of breast cancer.
Infiltrating lobular carcinoma starts in the lobules, the glands that secrete milk, and then infiltrates surrounding tissue.
On mammography, a lobular carcinoma can look similar to a ductal carcinoma -- a mass with fine spikes radiating from the edges (spiculation).
However, on physical examination of the breast, a lobular carcinoma is usually not a hard mass like a ductal carcinoma but rather a vague thickening of the breast tissue.
Lobular carcinoma can occur in more than one site in the breast (as a multicentric tumor) or in both breasts at the same time (as bilateral lobular carcinoma).
Last Editorial Review: 4/24/1999 9:05:00 PM
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