Is ductal carcinoma the same as breast cancer?

There are many types of breast cancer. So what is the difference between invasive breast cancer and invasive ductal carcinoma? The editor is here to share some relevant professional knowledge with you. Is ductal carcinoma the same as breast cancer? I hope that the detailed introduction in this article can be helpful to everyone, so please check it out as soon as possible.

Invasive breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor in which tumor cells have broken through the basement membrane of the mammary gland or lobular alveoli and invaded the interstitial space. The vast majority of invasive breast cancers are adenocarcinomas, which originate from the squamous epithelial cells of the breast, especially the peripheral lobular tissues of the breast. Invasive breast cancer has many histological manifestations and is divided into different histopathological types based on their unique prognostic or clinical characteristics. Some scientific studies have highlighted that tumors with a higher histologic grade classification respond better to some chemotherapy regimens than tumors with a lower histologic grade classification. Invasion of the abducens nerve by cancer is sometimes found in invasive breast cancer, but it is not a single predictor of prognosis.

The causes of breast cancer are multifactorial. Family history of breast cancer is a high-risk factor for breast cancer. In addition, it also involves diet, pregnancy, hormone imbalance and sudden changes in related genes.

Invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (ductal NOS) is a relatively large group of atypical tumors in the classification of invasive breast cancer. Due to the lack of rich and varied features, it cannot be classified as a specific histological type like lobular carcinoma or tubular carcinoma.

This type of tumor has no obvious characteristics when observed with the human eye, and its size varies, ranging from 10mm to over 100mm. The tumor has an irregular shape, appearing star-shaped or mass-shaped, with clear or unclear edges and a lack of obvious boundaries with surrounding tissues. It feels solid or hard to the touch and gritty when cut. The cross section is generally off-white with light yellow patterns.

Editor's message: Breast health is very important for women. For the sake of their own bodies, it is recommended that ordinary female friends, on the basis of understanding which women are more likely to develop breast cancer, learn some scientific knowledge about breast diseases, master the method of personal breast examination, develop the habit of regular self-examination, and actively participate in breast cancer screening, so as to prevent it before it happens.