Hyperplastic lesions of the human breast: scanning electron microscopy and a review of current knowledge

Although the etiology of human breast cancer is unknown, certain epidemiological parameters such as risk of breast cancer development. Concurrent, retrospective and prospective studies have shown that one particular component of benign breast disease -- epithelial hyperplasia, may be responsible for the increase in risk. Several classification have been devised for epithelial hyperplasia of the human breast using light microscopy. By scanning electron microscopy epithelial hyperplasia in ducts has several patterns: focal hyperplasia, simple columnar bridging, complex bridging and solid hyperplasia. Although these patterns may be seen in non-cancerous ducts in both malignant and non-malignant cases, alterations in microvillus structure and number have only been seen to date in malignant cases.