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The most common types of breast cancers are adenocarcinomas that originate in the ducts or lobules of the breast. There are two main types of breast adenocarcinomas known as ductal carcinomas and lobular carcinomas. These can further be divided into the following subtypes:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

  • represents the most common form of noninvasive breast cancer
  • may contain areas of necrotic (dead) cancer cells
  • pathologists use the term comedocarcinoma or comedo DCIC to describe DCIS where necrotic cancer cells are observed under a microscope
  • comedo DCIS is considered to be a more aggressive type of disease than non-comedo DCIS

• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

  • LCIS is also considered to represent a noninvasive form of breast cancer
  • LCIS starts in the milk-producing lobules of the breast but does not penetrate the walls of the lobules.
  • the term "in situ" in the term "lobular carcinoma in situ" indicates that this is an early stage of breast cancer that is confined locally to area where the cancer started
  • some doctors believe that LCIS is a risk factor for developing invasive breast cancer and women with LCIS should undergo a physical exam at least twice each year as well as a yearly mammogram.

• Infiltrating (invasive) ductal carcinoma (IDC)

  • IDC is the most common type of breast cancer and represents about 80% of all invasive breast cancers.
  • IDC starts in the ducts of the breast but spreads to invade the surrounding normal breast tissue.

• Infiltrating (invasive) lobular carcinoma (ILC)

  • ILC is also considered as an invasive form of breast cancer but is much less common than IDC.
  • ILC starts in the lobules of the breast but can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
  • ILC may be more difficult to detect with screening mammography than IDC.