Tubular carcinoma of the breast. Clinical and pathological observations concerning 135 cases.

Clinical and pathological features of 135 tubular carcinomas are discussed. Tumor size varied from 0.2 to 2.5 cm with a mean diameter of 0.9 cm. In situ carcinoma was found associated with tubular cancer in 86 cases (63.6%). In 82 of 86 (95.3%) it was of micropapillary/cribriform intraductal type. Twelve of 109 patients in whom axillary dissection was performed were found to have axillary metastases. Six patients (4%) developed recurrent or disseminated metastatic carcinoma during a mean follow-up period of 7.2 years. Two of these patients are dead of disease. Tubular carcinoma should be distinguished from microglandular adenosis, an uncommon form of sclerosing adenosis.