Status of breast cancer prognostication based on histopathologic data.

The authors present the current status of histopathologic data for prognostication in breast cancer. Current guidelines for using the combined histologic grade are given, as is a review of clinical settings in which this robust grading system has been proved predictive. Precise guidelines are also presented for recognizing special histologic types of cancer, which are associated with an excellent prognosis. Histopathologic methods for assessing cellular proliferation are also presented. This is a dynamic time in the field of breast histopathology when there is a wider and widening appreciation for the clinical utility of these assessments. Concurrently, these approaches should be used with care and clinical relevance of this information should be presented with clarity.