(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
