Immunohistochemistry in breast pathology: differential diagnosis of epithelial breast lesions

Böcker W, Hungermann D, Weigel S, Tio J, Decker T

Abstract

Proliferative epithelial breast lesions include a wide variety of benign hyperplastic and noninvasive neoplastic lesions, as well as invasive carcinomas. Mammographically these lesions may show microcalcifications, architectural distortions or mass lesions. The task of the pathologist begins with a preoperative diagnosis by means of minimally invasive biopsy. His diagnosis forms the basis for not only the radiological-pathological correlation diagnosis, but also for the management of benign proliferative breast disease lesions, as well as therapeutic decisions in the case of malignant lesions.In daily practice, immunohistochemistry is the method of choice for clarifying difficult cases. The aim of this chapter is to describe the relevant markers in breast pathology and to provide an algorithmic approach to different proliferative breast disease lesions.