Ductal vs Lobular Breast Cancer: Understanding the Differences
Breast cancer is a complex illness that affects a significant number of women all over the world.
It can be divided into several subtypes, the most common of which are Ductal and Lobular breast cancer.
Ductal breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer, making up about 80% of all cases.
Both Ductal and Lobular breast cancers share similarities as well as differences.
Understanding the differences between Ductal and Lobular breast cancer is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.
For more information about Ductal vs Lobular breast cancer, continue reading the article.
Overview
A quick overview of the two breast cancers include:
| Categories | Ductal Breast Cancer | Lobular Breast Cancer |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Arises in the milk ducts of the breast | Arises in the milk-producing glands (lobules) of the breast |
| Growth Pattern | Forms solid masses or irregular shapes in the ducts | Tends to be in a single line pattern and does not form distinct masses |
| Detection and Diagnosis | Can often be detected through mammography or physical examination | Can be harder to detect through mammography due to the lack of distinct masses |
| Prognosis | Has better prognosis compared to Lobular breast cancer | Has a slightly worse prognosis compared to ductal breast cancer |
| Risk factors | Age, family history, genetic mutations, early onset of menstruation, late menopause | Similar risk factors but it is more common in women of age 45 to 55 or with hormone replacement treatment |
Origin
Ductal breast cancer originates in the milk ducts.
It typically affects the outermost layer of the breast tissue and can be diagnosed through a biopsy.
It is of two types – Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) and Invasive (infiltrating) Ductal carcinoma (IDC).
Lobular breast cancer, on the other hand, develops in the lobules.
It usually affects the inner layers of the breast tissue and is harder to detect.
It is of two types – Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS) and Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC).
Growth Pattern
The growth pattern of the Ductal Breast includes the formation of irregular masses or lumps within the breast tissue.
The growth pattern for Lobular Breast cancer involves the “Indian-file” pattern, in which cancer cells arrange themselves in a single line.
There is no significant distinction between Lobular and Ductal breast cancer regarding tumor size.
But the two types of cancer differ regarding where they start and how far they spread.
Most Ductal cancers are multifocal and scattered, while most Lobular cancers are single sites.
Lobular tumors also grow slower than Ductal tumors.
Prevalence
Ductal breast cancer is the most common type, accounting for about 80% of all cases.
Lobular breast cancer is less prevalent than Ductal breast cancer, accounting for roughly 10-15% of all cases.
Prognosis
Ductal breast cancer tends to have a better prognosis compared to Lobular breast cancer.
According to a study, patients with invasive Lobular carcinoma (ILC) of the breast tend to have worse outcomes compared to those with invasive Ductal carcinoma (IDC) when cancer has spread to the bones (bone-only metastasis).
Furthermore, this outcome difference is particularly pronounced in subgroups of ILC patients with lower histological grades (less aggressive cancer cells) or smaller tumor burdens.
Detection and diagnosis
Lobular breast cancer is harder to detect and diagnose than Ductal breast cancer.
This is because Lobular breast cancer tends to have a random pattern of single-cell infiltration that a stromal (supportive tissue surrounding the cancer cells) reaction may not follow.
This makes it hard to find with mammography and a physical exam.
Ductal breast cancer is generally detected through a mammogram, breast ultrasound, or physical exam.
Treatment
Treatment approaches for Ductal and Lobular breast cancer treatment are generally similar.
However, it differs depending on the cancer stage and its particular characteristics.
Some potential treatment options include surgical intervention, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.
Sometimes a combination of these treatments may also be used.
Risk Factors
Even though Ductal and Lobular breast cancer shares similar risk factors like female hormones, family history, genetic mutations, early onset of menstruation, late menopause but there are also some differences.
Lobular breast cancer is more common in older women, those who take hormone replacement treatment, and those with a family history of breast cancer.
On the other hand, Ductal breast cancer may be more likely to be caused by specific genetic changes, molecular subtypes, and tumors.
Survival Rates
More research is necessary to accurately determine the survival rates for both types of breast cancer.
The studies and researches present are not enough to draw a conclusion.
In one study, invasive Lobular carcinoma was found to have greater short- and long-term survival than invasive Ductal carcinoma.
However, another study found no significant difference in survival between the two kinds of breast cancer.
While a third study discovered that surgical and medicinal treatment outcomes and survival rates for invasive Lobular and invasive Ductal breast cancers are equal.
As a result, it is unclear if Ductal breast cancer has a lower overall survival rate than Lobular breast cancer.
Recurrence
According to one study, Lobular breast cancer has a lower recurrence rate than Ductal breast cancer.
This study used population-based data to compare the recurrence dynamics of Ductal breast cancer and Lobular breast cancer.
Another study found that both these cancers when invasive have similar rate of survival and recurrence. However the pattern of them spreading and reoccurring in other organs differ.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma recurred more frequently in the abdominal cavity (24.3% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.001) than Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
Takeaway
Ductal breast cancer and Lobular breast cancer are two types of breast cancer that differ from each other.
The origin, growth pattern, prevalence, prognosis, detection and diagnosis, survival rates, and risk factors of Ductal and Lobular breast cancer differ.
Lobular breast cancer begins in the lobules in a single line, whereas ductal breast cancer is more prevalent and forms irregular lumps.
Ductal breast cancer is more common overall, but bone-only metastases may have worse outcomes in lobular breast cancer.
Detecting and diagnosing Lobular breast cancer can be more challenging, and treatment techniques may vary depending on the specific subtype of the cancer.
Survival and recurrence rates might vary, and each subtype has risk factors.
It is essential to consult with a specialist for better diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes with Ductal and Lobular breast cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lobular or ductal breast cancer more common?
Ductal breast cancer is more common, accounting for about 80% of the cases. Lobular breast cancer is less common Ductal, which accounts for about 10% to 15% of all cases.
What is the difference between ductal and lobular carcinoma pathology?
Ductal carcinoma starts in the milk ducts and forms irregular tumor masses, while lobular carcinoma starts in the lobules and grows diffusely with cells in a single-file line.
Which is more serious Ductal or Lobular breast cancer?
Depending on the person, both ductal and lobular breast cancer can be mild, moderate, or severe. It is not fair to say that one is worse than the other because the prognosis and results depend on many things, like the stage of the disease, the type of tumor, and the patient.
Who gets lobular breast cancer?
Women of any age can get Lobular breast cancer, but women between the age of 45 to 55 are more susceptible. It accounts for 10% to 15% of all instances of breast cancer and is the second most common type.
Does lobular breast cancer spread quickly?
Lobular breast cancer is slow growing compared to other breast cancers. But the rate of the spreading of Lobular breast cancer depends on the individual and various other factors.
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