Tubular Breast Cancer

Tubular breast cancer is a type of invasive ductal carcinoma.

Screening mammography often detects tubular breast cancer as a small mass, irregular in shape with spiculated margins.

So, the distinguishing feature is the visual appearance of the cells under a microscope. In this case, the cancer cells resemble tiny tubes that are well differentiated, meaning the cells are more like normal cells than poorly-defined ones.

I just want to let you know that I have created a newer version of this page with more up-to-date material on Tubular Carcinoma of the breast. However, this page still has good information.

Invasive Tubular Carcinoma

Specialists think of “Tubularity” as a characteristic of breast tumor cells that are adjacent to an open lumen.

I don’t understand that, but I can imagine that the cells simply prefer to move like a slender linear herd of cows.

Cows don’t do that.

Tubular breast carcinoma is not necessarily a distinct type but falls along a spectrum or a certain ‘percentage’ of tumors with tubular cells.

Tubular sounds cool, and cows can be cool.

In some studies, breast tumors with more than 70% tubular cells, and of low nuclear grade and mitotic activity, may almost be considered benign and are almost never associated with breast cancer death or even metastasis.

Tubular breast cancer Prognosis

Tubular breast cancer is rare cancer that accounts for no more than 2% of all breast cancer diagnoses. This type of breast cancer occurs most frequently in women who are in their 50’s.

Tubular breast carcinoma tends to be small, highly estrogen-dependent and HER2/neu negative.

These are good words to hear. Good for having a good treatable targetted medicine and excellent survival.

Women with this type of breast cancer are less likely to metastasize and have an excellent survival rate.

On Average, women with tubular breast carcinoma maintain a disease-free status of near 100% over ten years and overall survival of 70%.

Treatment of tubular breast cancer with breast-conserving surgery tends to provide excellent results. Women with tubular breast cancer tend to have a near-normal life expectancy.

Because of this adjuvant therapies are often not necessary in the treatment and management of tubular breast cancer.

Below is a bunch of Q&A’s…

How rare is tubular carcinoma?

This type of cancer is extremely rare, accounting for about 2% of all breast cancers.

Who gets tubular breast carcinoma?

Although it can occur at any age, tubular carcinoma is much more common in women over the age of 50. It can also occur in men but it is very, very rare.

How is tubular carcinoma diagnosed?

Tests that will help in the diagnosis of tubular breast cancer include:-

Physical breast exams
A mammogram
Ultrasound
Core biopsy or a fine need aspiration.

Routine breast cancer screening actually detects many tubular breast cancers.

What are the treatment options for tubular breast carcinoma?

As with all types of breast cancer, the feature of your tubular carcinoma will affect what treatments your doctor will offer you. The treatments include:-

Surgery (breast-conserving, or mastectomy)
Checking lymph nodes under the arm area
Adjuvant treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy).

What are the symptoms of tubular breast carcinoma?

Like any other types of breast cancer, tubular carcinoma of the breast may not cause any symptoms at first. Over time, a lump may grow larger enough to be felt on breast self-exam or an exam by your doctor.

How big is a tubular carcinoma?

They are usually small, 1 cm or less in diameter, and feel firm or hard to the touch.

References

Li CI, Uribe DJ, Daling JR. (2005) Clinical characteristics of different histologic types of breast cancer. (2005) Br J Cancer 93:1046–1052. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2361680/
McBoyle MF, Razek HA, Carter JL. (et al). (1997) Tubular carcinoma of the breast: An institutional review. Am Surg(1997) 63:639–644. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9202540
Rakha EA, Lee AH, Evans AJ, Menon S, Assad NY, Hodi Z, Macmillan D, Blamey RW, Ellis IO. (2010) Tubular carcinoma of the breast: further evidence to support its excellent prognosis. J Clin Oncol. (Jan. 2010)28(1):99-104. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19917872
Sheppard DG , Whitman GJ, Fornage BD, Stelling CB. Huynh, PT. (2000) Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast: Mammographic and Sonographic Features. American Journal of Roentgenology, 2000; 174:253-257 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10628489
Stalsberg H, Hartmann WH. (2000) The delimitation of tubular carcinoma of the breast. Hum Pathol (2000)31:601–607 https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/tubular
Yang GY, Wharton K, Wagner TD, Donohue K, Tripp, P. (et al). (2005) Pure tubular breast carcinoma: A study of outcomes from 1971-2004. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2005 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings.(June 2005) Vol 23, No. 16S, Part I of II 674