ASO Author Reflection: Updating our Knowledge on Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer

Abstract

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histologic type of breast cancer (BC), comprising 15% of all invasive BC 1 . As such, a majority of ILC data is usually extrapolated from larger studies; ductal histology is the more represented subset of cancers. More recent studies have identified ILC as a distinctive subtype. Specifically, ILC has the tendency to present with its unique radiographically occult infiltrative pattern and higher likelihood to be multifocal/multicentric 2 . ILC has historically thought to confer an increased contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk 3 , impacting the rate of contralateral prophylactic mastectomies (CPM) offered at the time of preoperative counseling. Additionally, conflicting data exist regarding the value of MRI in preoperative staging 4 . In our study, we sought to assess modern data regarding multifocality/multicentricity, bilaterality of the disease and nodal involvement, as well as assess the role of MRI in preoperative setting 5 .