Pathologic·Pathology·Breast

Comedo DCIS — high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ

Stain: H&E·Magnification: 10x·Tissue: Mammary duct with neoplastic epithelium·3 labeled regions

Wikimedia Commons · File:Comedo_DCIS.jpg · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Comedo_DCIS.jpg (CC-licensed)

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Description

Malignant cells fill duct lumen with central comedonecrosis (eosinophilic debris ± dystrophic calcification on mammography). High-grade DCIS — likely to progress to invasive ductal carcinoma. Pleomorphic nuclei, brisk mitoses, no stromal invasion (in situ).

Labeled regions (3)

1
Central comedonecrosis
Eosinophilic necrotic debris in duct center — pathognomonic feature. Calcifies → microcalcifications on mammography.
2
Pleomorphic neoplastic cells
Large nuclei, irregular contours, prominent nucleoli — high-grade cytology lining the duct.
3
Intact ductal basement membrane
No stromal invasion = "in situ". Invasive ductal carcinoma defined by crossing this boundary.