Understanding Pathology
Understanding Breast Pathology
Receiving a pathology report can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly when unfamiliar medical terms and complex information are involved. Understanding your pathology results is an important part of your breast health journey and can help guide decisions regarding diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care.
Pathology refers to the examination of breast tissue, cells, or fluid samples by a specialist doctor known as a pathologist. These samples may be obtained through:
- breast biopsy
- fine needle aspiration
- core needle biopsy
- vacuum-assisted biopsy
- lumpectomy or breast surgery
The pathology report provides detailed information about the tissue examined and helps determine whether findings are benign (non-cancerous), high-risk, or cancerous. This information plays a critical role in treatment planning and multidisciplinary breast care.
What Does a Pathology Report Include?
A breast pathology report may include information about:
- whether the tissue is benign or malignantthe type of breast condition or cancer
- the type of breast condition or cancer
- tumour size and grade
- hormone receptor status
- HER2 statuslymph node involvement
- lymph node involvement
- margins following surgery
- additional microscopic findings
Your pathology results are carefully reviewed alongside imaging, clinical examination, and other investigations to help guide the most appropriate treatment recommendations.
Benign Breast Conditions
Many breast biopsies reveal benign (non-cancerous) conditions that do not increase cancer risk or require significant treatment. Common benign breast conditions include:
- cysts
- fibroadenomas
- fibrocystic change
- papillomasfat necrosis
- fat necrosis
- usual ductal hyperplasia
- adenosis
Although benign conditions are not cancerous, some may still require monitoring, follow-up imaging, or surgical removal depending on symptoms, imaging findings, or pathology characteristics.
Atypical & High-Risk Lesions
Some pathology results identify abnormal cells that are not cancer but may be associated with an increased future risk of breast cancer. These are sometimes referred to as atypical or high-risk lesions.
Examples may include:
- atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)
- atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH)
- lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- flat epithelial atypia
- radial scar lesions
Further surgery, increased surveillance, or additional risk assessment may sometimes be recommended depending on the pathology findings and overall clinical picture.
Understanding Breast Cancer Pathology
If breast cancer is diagnosed, the pathology report provides important information about the characteristics of the cancer and helps guide treatment planning.
Key features assessed may include:
- invasive or non-invasive disease
- tumour grade
- hormone receptor status (ER/PR)
- HER2 receptor status
- lymphovascular invasion
- lymph node involvement
These findings help determine whether additional treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, or further surgery may be recommended.
Multidisciplinary Breast Care
Modern breast care involves close collaboration between breast surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, breast physicians, and multidisciplinary teams. Pathology results are carefully reviewed together with imaging and clinical findings to ensure accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment planning.
A/Prof Farid Meybodi works closely with experienced multidisciplinary breast cancer teams to provide evidence-based, patient-centred care tailored to each individual’s diagnosis and treatment goals.
Supporting You Through Your Diagnosis
We understand that waiting for results or receiving a pathology diagnosis can be stressful and emotional. Our goal is to provide clear communication, compassionate support, and personalised guidance throughout every stage of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
During your consultation, A/Prof Farid Meybodi will review your pathology findings in detail, explain what the results mean, and discuss the most appropriate next steps for your individual circumstances.
