[The morphological characteristics of primary breast cancers with different growth rates]

Morphologic peculiarities of primary breast cancer versus growth rate were studied in 46 cases. Growth rate (actual doubling time) was established by mammography carried out at certain time intervals. Morphologic investigation included assessment of tumor histology, degree of invasion, growth pattern, presence of pathologic mitoses, degree of blood vessel invasion, degree of necrosis, presence of microcalcinates, type of desmoplastic reaction, peculiarities of cell infiltration, background and regional lymph node reaction, and grade of malignancy. None of the above parameters appeared to correlate with tumor growth rate. It is concluded that standard morphologic examination of tumor be supplemented with assessment of its proliferative activity.