Oestrogen receptor assay and morphology of breast cancer.

The associations between oestrogen receptors, several morphological features and prognosis were studied in 53 cases of primary breast carcinoma. There was no significant association between oestrogen receptors and any morphological property studied (histological grade, cellularity, fibrosis, elastosis, necrosis, lymphatic permeation, follicular hyperplasia, encapsulation, vascular invasion, tubular areas, histiocytosis, lymphocytic cell infiltration, number of invaded lymph nodes, tumour size, site of recurrence). Disease-free interval and survival were longer in patients having cancers with positive oestrogen receptors. Good prognostic signs were low histological grades, tubular areas and absence of lymphatic invasion within the primary tumour.