Review on Practical Approach in Multiple Breast Carcinomas: Does Each Focus Matter?

Breast carcinoma is the most frequent form of cancer encountered in women worldwide. In the routine practice, most of breast carcinomas are diagnosed as unifocal, however, a variable proportion is represented by multiple tumor foci. Since data regarding the incidence, definition, morphological and molecular profile, treatment and prognosis of multiple breast carcinomas are currently contradictory we are presenting a practical approach for pathologists dealing with such a lesion, which may display morphological and molecular heterogeneity among multiple foci with an impact on management and prognosis. Multiple tumor foci should be reported separately and taken into account when establishing the treatment.