Invasive carcinoma of no special type


Invasive carcinoma of no special type also known as invasive ductal carcinoma or ductal NOS and previously known as invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified is a group of breast cancers that do not have the "specific differentiating features". Those that have these features belong to other types.
In this group are: pleomorphic carcinoma, carcinoma with osteoclast-like stromal giant cells, carcinoma with choriocarcinomatous features, and carcinoma with melanotic features. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means that for the diagnosis to be made all the other specific types must be ruled out.

Classification

Invasive carcinoma of no special type is the most common form of invasive breast cancer. It accounts for 55% of breast cancer incidence upon diagnosis, according to statistics from the United States in 2004. On a mammogram, it is usually visualized as a mass with fine spikes radiating from the edges. On physical examination, this lump usually feels much harder or firmer than benign breast lesions such as fibroadenoma. On microscopic examination, the cancerous cells invade and replace the surrounding normal tissues. IDC is divided in several histological subtypes.

Signs and symptoms

In many cases, ductal carcinoma is asymptomatic, and detected as abnormal results on mammography. When symptoms occur, a painless, enlarging mass that does not fluctuate with the menstrual period may be felt. Pinching of the overlying skin may also be seen. Certain subtypes, such as inflammatory carcinomas, may result in a swollen, enlarged and tender breast. All variants of cancer, if there is metastatic spread, may cause enlarged lymph nodes and affect other organs.

Causes

The cancer may form from the precancerous lesion called ductal carcinoma in situ.

Diagnosis

Tumor size

Tumors under 1 cm in diameter are unlikely to spread systemically. Tumors are staged by size.
DiameterTumor size staging number
0–5 mmT1a
5–10 mmT1b
10–20 mmT1c
20-50mmT2
>50 mmT3
Tumor involves skin or chest wallT4

Lymph node involvement

Absence of cancer cells in the lymph nodes is a good indication that the cancer has not spread systemically. Presence of cancer in the lymph nodes indicates the cancer may have spread. In studies, some women have had presence of cancer in the lymph nodes, were not treated with chemotherapy, and still did not have a systemic spread. Therefore, lymph node involvement is not a positive predictor of spread.
Lymph node statusLymph node involvement grade
No involved nodesN0
Involved node or nodesN1
Involved nodes that are fixed to one anotherN2

Clinical staging

Tumor size staging and node involvement staging can be combined into a single clinical staging number.
Tumor size stagingNode involvement stagingClinical stage
T1N0I
T1N1IIA
T2N0IIA
T2N1IIB
T3N0IIB
T1-T2N2IIIA
T3N1IIIA
T3N2IIIA
T4N0-N2IIIB

Histopathologic criteria

Carcinomatous cells are seen below the basement membrane of lactiferous ducts. Otherwise, there are no specific histologic characteristics, essentially making it a diagnosis of exclusion.

Grading

The appearance of cancer cells under a microscope is another predictor of systemic spread. The more different the cancer cells look compared to normal duct cells, the greater the risk of systemic spread. There are three characteristics that differentiate cancer cells from normal cells.
  1. Tendency to form tubular structures
  2. Nuclear size, shape, and staining intensity
  3. Mitotic rate - Rate of cell division
The histologic appearance of cancer cells can be scored on these three parameters on a scale from one to three. The sum of these grades is a number between 3 and 9. The score is called a Bloom Richardson Grade and is expressed /9. For example, cells that were graded 2 on all three parameters would result in a BR score of 6/9.
A score of 5 and under is considered Low. 6 to 7 is considered Intermediate. 8 to 9 is considered High.

Vascular invasion

The presence of cancer cell in small blood vessels is called vascular invasion. The presence of vascular invasion increases the probability of systemic spread.

DNA analysis

DNA analysis indicates the amount of DNA in cancer cells and how fast the cancer is growing.
Cells with the normal amount of DNA are called diploid. Cells with too much or too little DNA are called aneuploid. Aneuploid cells are more likely to spread than diploid cells.
DNA testings indicates the rate of growth by determining the number of cells in the synthetic phase. An S Phase > 10% means a higher chance of spreading.
The results of DNA testing are considered less reliable predictors of spread than size, histology, and lymph node involvement.

Prognosis

According to the NIH Consensus Conference, if DCIS is allowed to go untreated, the natural course or natural history varies according to the grade of the DCIS. Unless treated, approximately 60 percent of low-grade DCIS lesions will have become invasive at 40 years follow-up. High-grade DCIS lesions that have been inadequately resected and not given radiotherapy have a 50 percent risk of becoming invasive breast cancer within seven years. Approximately half of low-grade DCIS detected at screening will represent overdiagnosis, but overdiagnosis of high-grade DCIS is rare. The natural history of intermediate-grade DCIS is difficult to predict. Approximately one-third of malignant calcification clusters detected at screening mammography already have an invasive focus.
The prognosis of IDC depends, in part, on its histological subtype. Mucinous, papillary, cribriform, and tubular carcinomas have longer survival, and lower recurrence rates. The prognosis of the most common form of IDC, called "IDC Not Otherwise Specified", is intermediate. Finally, some rare forms of breast cancer have a poor prognosis. Regardless of the histological subtype, the prognosis of IDC depends also on tumor size, presence of cancer in the lymph nodes, histological grade, presence of cancer in small vessels, expression of hormone receptors and of oncogenes like HER2/neu.
These parameters can be entered into models that provide a statistical probability of systemic spread. The probability of systemic spread is a key factor in determining whether radiation and chemotherapy are worthwhile. The individual parameters are important also because they can predict how well a cancer will respond to specific chemotherapy agents.
Overall, the five-year survival rate of invasive ductal carcinoma was approximately 85% in 2003.

Treatment

Treatment of invasive carcinoma of no special type depends on the size of the mass :
The treatment options offered to an individual patient are determined by the form, stage and location of the cancer, and also by the age, history of prior disease and general health of the patient. Not all patients are treated the same way.