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Medullary breast carcinoma is a rare type of breast cancer that is characterized as a relatively circumscribed tumor with pushing, rather than infiltrating, margins. It is histologically characterized as poorly differentiated cells with abundant cytoplasm and pleomorphic high grade vesicular nuclei. It involves lymphocytic infiltration in and around the tumor and can appear to be brown in appearance with necrosis and hemorrhage. Prognosis is measured through staging but can often be treated successfully and has a better prognosis than other infiltrating breast carcinomas.
Medullary breast carcinoma is one of five types of epithelial breast cancer: ductal, lobular, medullary, colloid, and tubular.
Ductal Carcinoma in situ is less commonly present, and medullary breast cancer presents as a soft, fleshy mass with a pushing border. Tumors commonly possess mutations of E-cadherin, which results in its overexpression. Strengthened adhesions between tumor cells reduce the frequency of metastasis.