6
Diagnosis
Table 1. Invasive Breast Cancer Histopathologic
Concordance with Estrogen Receptor Staining
HIGHLY UNUSUAL ER
NEGATIVE RESULTS
HIGHLY UNUSUAL ER
POSITIVE RESULTS
• Low grade invasive carcinomas of no
special type (also known as invasive
ductal carcinoma)
• Metaplastic carcinomas of all subtypes
• Lobular carcinomas (classic type) • Adenoid cystic carcinomas and other
salivary gland-like carcinomas of the
breast
• Pure tubular, cribriform, or mucinous
carcinomas
• Secretory carcinoma
• Encapsulated papillary and solid
papillary carcinomas
• Carcinomas with apocrine
differentiation
Note: If a result is considered highly unusual/discordant, additional steps should be
taken to check the accuracy of the histologic type or grade as well as the pre-analytic and
analytic testing factors. is work-up may include second reviews and repeat testing.
If all results appear valid the result can be reported with a comment noting that the
findings are highly unusual and testing of additional samples may be of value to confirm
the findings.
