RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Grading of breast cancer on needle core biopsy: does a reduction in mitotic count threshold improve agreement with grade on excised specimens?
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 1106
OP 1108
DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2014-202294
VO 67
IS 12
A1 Dhaliwal, Catharine Ann
A1 Graham, Catriona
A1 Loane, Joseph
YR 2014
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/67/12/1106.abstract
AB Background Accurate assessment of invasive breast cancer grade on needle core biopsy (NCB) is important as it guides treatment. Aim To assess the agreement between grade of invasive cancer on NCB and excision and determine whether altering the mitotic count score threshold on NCB improves it. Methods Pathology slides from patients with an NCB diagnosis of invasive breast cancer who underwent subsequent breast conservation surgery in 2012 were reviewed. Mitotic counts were assessed and tumour grade agreement between NCB and excision evaluated. The mitotic count thresholds were altered and grade agreement was reassessed. Results In 283/359 (79%) cases, there was concurrence on histological grade between NCB and excision. Reduction in mitotic count thresholds did not improve either overall tumour grade agreement or agreement within any subgroup of patients. Conclusions In our experience, the current mitotic count score thresholds are appropriate and should be maintained.