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Encyclopedia of Pathology pp 1–5Cite as

Microglandular Adenosis

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

Definition

Microglandular adenosis (MGA) of the breast is a glandular proliferation of uncertain malignant potential, which mimics invasive carcinoma due to haphazard infiltrative growth in breast stroma and the lack of a myoepithelial cell layer. The term atypical microglandular adenosis (AMGA) is used when the glandular structures are more crowded, with a back-to-back architecture and higher variation in size and shape; epithelial proliferation, as well as nuclear atypia and mitotic activity, can be present.

Clinical Features

  • Incidence

    MGA is an exceedingly rare breast lesion.

  • Age

    It affects patients with an age range between adolescence and senescence.

  • Sex

    All reported patients with microglandular adenosis are female.

  • Site

    There is no predilection for a particular quadrant in the breast. MGA can be unifocal or multifocal (Clement and Azzopardi 1983).

  • Clinical Presentation

    MGA usually is asymptomatic and may present as a microscopic lesion or as a palpable mass (Rosen 1983). It can...

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References and Further Reading

  • Clement, P. B., & Azzopardi, J. G. (1983). Microglandular adenosis of the breast – A lesion simulating tubular carcinoma. Histopathology, 7, 169–180.

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  • Foschini, M. P., & Eusebi, V. (2018). Microglandular adenosis of the breast: A deceptive and still mysterious benign lesion. Human Pathology, 82, 1–9.

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  • Geyer, F. C., Kushner, Y. B., Lambros, M. B., Natrajan, R., Mackay, A., Tamber, N., … & Reis-Filho, J. S. (2009). Microglandular adenosis or microglandular adenoma? A molecular genetic analysis of a case associated with atypia and invasive carcinoma. Histopathology, 55, 732–743.

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  • Geyer, F. C., Lacroix-Triki, M., Colombo, P. E., Patani, N., Gauthier, A., Natrajan, R., … & Marchio, C. (2012). Molecular evidence in support of the neoplastic and precursor nature of microglandular adenosis. Histopathology, 60, E115–E130.

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  • Geyer, F. C., Berman, S. H., Marchiò, C., Burke, K. A., Guerini-Rocco, E., Piscuoglio, S., … & Schnitt, S. J. (2017). Genetic analysis of microglandular adenosis and acinic cell carcinomas of the breast provides evidence for the existence of a low-grade triple-negative breast neoplasia family. Modern Pathology, 30, 69.

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  • Guerini-Rocco, E., Piscuoglio, S., Ng, C. K., Geyer, F. C., De Filippo, M. R., Eberle, C. A., … & Yatabe, Y. (2016). Microglandular adenosis associated with triple-negative breast cancer is a neoplastic lesion of triple-negative phenotype harbouring TP53 somatic mutations. The Journal of Pathology, 238, 677–688.

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  • James, B. A., Cranor, M. L., & Rosen, P. P. (1993). Carcinoma of the breast arising in microglandular adenosis. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 100, 507–513.

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  • Khalifeh, I. M., Albarracin, C., Diaz, L. K., Symmans, F. W., Edgerton, M. E., Hwang, R. F., & Sneige, N. (2008). Clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features of microglandular adenosis and transition into in situ and invasive carcinoma. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 32, 544–552.

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  • Lakhani, S. R., Ellis, I. O., Schnitt, S. J., Tan, P. H., & van de Vijver, M. J. (2012). WHO classification of tumors of the breast (pp. 106–107). World Health Organization. Lyon, France. ISBN-10: 9283224337.

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  • Rosen, P. P. (1983). Microglandular adenosis. A benign lesion simulating invasive mammary carcinoma. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 7, 137–144.

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  • Rosenblum, M. K., Purrazzella, R., & Rosen, P. P. (1986). Is microglandular adenosis a precancerous disease? A study of carcinoma arising therein. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 10, 237–245.

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  • Salarieh, A., & Sneige, N. (2007). Breast carcinoma arising in microglandular adenosis: A review of the literature. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, 131, 1397–1399.

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  • Shin, S. J., Simpson, P. T., Da Silva, L., Jayanthan, J., Reid, L., Lakhani, S. R., & Rosen, P. P. (2009). Molecular evidence for progression of microglandular adenosis (MGA) to invasive carcinoma. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 33, 496–504.

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  • Shui, R., & Yang, W. (2009). Invasive breast carcinoma arising in microglandular adenosis: A case report and review of the literature. The Breast Journal, 15, 653–656.

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  • Tavassoli, F. A., & Bratthauer, G. L. (1993). Immunohistochemical profile and differential diagnosis of microglandular adenosis. Modern Pathology, 6, 318–322.

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  • Tavassoli, F. A., & Norris, H. J. (1983). Microglandular adenosis of the breast. A clinicopathologic study of 11 cases with ultrastructural observations. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 7, 731–737.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Unit of Pathology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Eliano Cascardi & Eugenio Maiorano

  2. Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Unit of Pathology, Candiolo, Italy

    Eliano Cascardi & Caterina Marchiò

  3. Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy

    Caterina Marchiò

Authors
  1. Eliano Cascardi
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  2. Caterina Marchiò
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  3. Eugenio Maiorano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Caterina Marchiò .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands

    J.H.J.M. van Krieken

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Cascardi, E., Marchiò, C., Maiorano, E. (2019). Microglandular Adenosis. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_4723-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_4723-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28845-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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