A stereomicroscopic study of the mastopathic human breast

Summary The stereomicroscopic study of cystic disease of the breast revealed the presence of abnormal ductules near the terminal sites of the original lactiferous ducts. This alteration was the key feature of cystic disease since the involution of abnormal ductules possibly may have induced the stricture of the original duct by increasing fibrosis around the site of duct evolution. The phenomenon could contribute to the creation of cystic dilatation of distal ducts and acini. Multiple large cysts characterizing the morphology of cystic disease may represent the end stage of distended ducts and acini. Prolonged and repeated unbalanced stimulation of hormones could produce progressive and regressive alternations in the same breast. This modifies the original alteration into more pleomorphic and complicated types.

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Stereomikroskopische Studie der durch Mastopathie veränderten menschlichen MammaII. Die peripherische Form der Milchgangsevolution und ihre Beziehung zur Cystenmamma

Zusammenfassung Die stereomikroskopische Untersuchung sog. Cystenmmamen zeigt, daß die Cysten durch Ektasie der sog. Kanälchen-Endäste entstehen. Dagegen werden die Stamm-Milchgänge einer Involution zugeführt. An der Cystenbildung beteiligen sich auch die Acini. Als morphogenetische Reize kommen hormonelle Dysregulatonen in Frage. Durch die unterschiedliche Ausbildung der Kanälchen proliferation einerseits, die Involution sowie Cystenbildung andererseits resultiert ein buntes, wenig einheitliches Bild.

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Clinical Investigator, Veterans Administration Hospital, San Francisco, California, U.S.A., Former Postgraduate Student, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.

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This investigation was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University from 1958 to 1960 and was partially supported by a special research grant of the Japanese Ministry of Education.