Definition Of Atypical hyperplasia
Atypical hyperplasia is generally regarded as a precancerous condition. It isn't cancer, but it can be a forerunner to the development of cancer. Over the course of your lifetime, if the cells keep dividing and become more abnormal, the condition is reclassified as carcinoma in situ or noninvasive cancer.
If you have atypical hyperplasia, your risk of eventually developing breast cancer is about four to six times greater than is the risk for a woman who doesn't have the condition.
Causes
Atypical hyperplasia is a condition where breast cells are abnormal in number, size, shape, appearance and growth pattern. Location of the abnormal cells within the breast tissue — the lobules or the milk ducts — determines whether the cells are atypical lobular hyperplasia or atypical ductal hyperplasia.
Breast cancer is characterized by the overgrowth of abnormal cells, a multistep process called carcinogenesis. The process begins when normal cell development and growth become disrupted, causing an overproduction of normal-looking cells (hyperplasia). Atypical hyperplasia occurs when the excess cells stack upon one another and begin to take on an abnormal appearance. The abnormal cells can continue to change in appearance and multiply, evolving into noninvasive (in situ) cancer, in which cancer cells remain confined to the area where they start growing. Left untreated, the cancer cells may eventually become invasive cancer, invading surrounding tissue, blood vessels or lymph channels.
Researchers aren't sure exactly what causes the progression from normal cells to hyperplasia to atypical hyperplasia to in situ and invasive cancer.
Overview
How to provides comprehensive breast cancer screening, evaluation, education and treatment. Mayo Clinic physicians diagnose and treat more than 1,300 new patients with breast cancer each year. Mayo Clinic is among the most active breast cancer research facilities in the world. A team of medical professionals from several specialties provide innovative treatment strategies and supportive care to make patients' medical care as effective and comfortable as possible. Mayo physicians work with patients to develop personalized treatment plans for their unique needs. For example, genetic counseling is available for patients with a family history of breast cancer.
Diagnosis
Mayo offers state-of-the-art screening and diagnostic services, including mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, MRI-guided breast biopsies and surgical biopsies. The Mayo Clinic staff understands the anxiety associated with a breast condition and works to give patients the most prompt diagnosis possible. Mayo Clinic offers routine 24- to 48-hour turnaround for biopsy scheduling and availability of results. Read more about breast cancer diagnosis.
Treatment Options
At Mayo Clinic the patient and health care team members will discuss the most appropriate approach for care. The treatment plan may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy, or some combination of these. If surgery is an option, a surgeon will be consulted. If radiation therapy is to be considered, a radiation oncologist will be consulted. A medical oncologist discusses with patients the potential use of hormone therapy and chemotherapy. Read more about
breast cancer treatment options.
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