Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Optimization of Breast Biopsy and Mastectomy Sample Collection Procedures for Biobanking, Personalized Medicine, and Research Applications
Published on: September 2, 2025
Clinicopathologic implications of "flat epithelial atypia" in core needle biopsy specimens of the breast
Mamatha Chivukula1, Rohit Bhargava, George Tseng
1Dept of Pathology, Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Abstract:
Flat epithelial atypia (FEA) is an emerging entity of uncertain clinical significance, and outcome data are sparse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic significance of this entity for proper management. All core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens diagnosed as atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) from January 2006 to April 2008 were retrieved. H&E-stained slides of 5 levels on each case were reviewed. The differences in upstaging in subsequent excisions in the FEA and ADH group (31/189 [16.4%]) vs the pure FEA group (5/35 [14%]) and pure FEA (5/35 [14%]) vs pure ADH (5/45 [11%]) were not statistically significant. We observed that FEA evolved into ADH at the same site at an average of 3 to 4 levels. Our study concludes that there is an association of FEA with ADH on multiple levels of CNB specimens, and follow-up surgical excision findings for FEA are clinically significant.
Related Concept Videos
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Overview
Based on the number of cell layers,...
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Glandular Epithelium
Multicellular glands are formed during early development when epithelial budding...
Cellular Adaptation IV: Dysplasia and Metaplasia
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Stratified Epithelium
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Simple Epithelium
Because of the thinness of the cells, simple squamous epithelium is present where the rapid passage of chemical compounds is observed. For example, the endothelium that lines the capillaries and vessels...
