Special types of invasive breast carcinoma

There are some special types of breast cancer that are sub-types of invasive carcinoma. These are often named after features seen when they are viewed under the microscope, like the ways the cells are arranged.

Some of these may have a better prognosis than standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma. These include:

• Adenoid cystic carcinoma
• Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma 
• Medullary carcinoma
• Mucinous (or colloid) carcinoma
• Papillary carcinoma
• Tubular carcinoma

Some sub-types have the same or maybe worse prognosis than standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma. These include:

• Metaplastic carcinoma (most types, including spindle cell and squamous)
• Micropapillary carcinoma
• Mixed carcinoma (has features of both invasive ductal and lobular)

In general, all of these sub-types are still treated like standard infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

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