(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers at The
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have
identified an association between a rare type of breast
cancer and multiple tumors undetected by mammography or
ultrasound.
Mucinous carcinoma is a type of invasive breast cancer
that has long been associated with a favorable
prognosis. The study is the first to observe a negative
association. The researchers cautions that more, not
less, therapy and additional screening may be needed for
a select group of patients.
“Our findings must caution those caring for these women
that they may not only need more radiographic
evaluation, such as MRI, but also intraoperative
collaboration with radiology and pathology. These
patients also may need standard radiation treatment,
rather than the minimal effective therapy, which could
include no post-surgery treatment at all," George
Perkins, M.D., associate professor in M.D. Anderson
Department of Radiation Oncology was quoted as saying.
In a follow-up study researchers are evaluating a
subtype of mucinous breast cancer thought to be
exceedingly aggressive in hopes of establishing specific
screening and treatment guidelines.
SOURCE: CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium,
December 12, 2009
