[The so-called sweat-gland carcinoma of the human breast. A review (author's transl)]. / Das sogenannte Schweissdrüsencarcinom der Manna. Eine Ubersicht

The term sweat-gland carcinoma of the breast is used in widely different meanings. Nonetheless, two histologically well-characterized types may be recognized: 1. The apocrine (oncocytic) carcinoma is composed of large well-delimited cells with finely granular, oxyphilic cytoplasm similar to that of oncocytes of other organs. They resemble the "pale" oxyphilic cells of the aging normal breast whose cytoplasm in part show the same quality. These carcinoma cells are regarded as mammary cells in a state of transition into oncocytes. Any similarity they have to cells of the apocrine axillary sweat-gland is purely superficial and in no way influences the interpretation of apocrine carcinomas. 2. The secreting carcinoma histologically is reminiscent of the functioning, hormonally stimulated breast of pregnancy. It reveals apocrine extrusion of nuclei and an accumulation of neutral fat in cytoplasm and duct lumina. A case of secreting carcinoma is described in detail to exemplify the association with exogenous hormonal stimulation. Both types of differentiation of carcinomas may arise together or with other types of mammary carcinomas, and share the clinical prognosis with them. The term sweat-gland carcinoma of the human breast should be abolished since there exists no proof that they really occur.

[Stars in mammography--cancers and radial scars (author's transl)]. / "Sterne" im Mammogramm--Karzinome und "strahlige Narben"

Among 50 little starlike shadows in about 13,500 mammograms during the years 1973-1975 there were seven pictures proved histologically not to be cancers but "radial scars". We found no X-ray features to differentiate between scars and cancers. The uniform histologic picture of a centrally placed elastotic periductal scar with radial processes allowed however the exact differentiation. Especially significant for these radial scars is the storage of elastotic amorphous material around obliterated central ducts. Cystic atrophy or highgrade papillary epithelial proliferation in the surroundings may be combined with the central scar. Cancerous growth in this area is diagnosed without difficulty by the infiltration beyond the border of the star area.

[Radial scars (scarring) and obliterating mastopathy (author's transl)]. / Strahlige Narben und obliterierende Mastopathie Beiträge zur pathologischen Histologie der Mamma. XI

The lesion, known under several names, consists of an hyalinized sclerotic center containing abundant elastic and elastoid masses. These radiate into the periphery and enclose lobuli which reveal epithelial proliferation varying from simple hyperplasia with epithelial villi to the rather rare true papillomas. The hyaline and elastic masses in the central parts surround tubuli and correspond to a lesion known as obliterating mastitis (mastopathy) that may lead to total occlusion of the ducts. The entire process ends with a contracting scar that alters the lobuli stemming from the obliterated duct. These may atrophy, dilate, or respond with different forms of hyperplasia. Therefore the designation "radial scars (scarring) possibly with epithelial proliferation" is proposed. As is emphasized the condition may be associated with tubular carcinoma and may resemble pseudoinfiltration in sclerosing adenosis.

[The so-called "reserve cells" of the human cervical (author's transl)]. / Zur frage der sogenannten Reservezellen im menschlichen Cervixepithel

I. Basal cells occurring focally beneath the columnar epithelium of the endocervix are generally regarded as "reserve cells". Single "reserve cells" cannot be identified among the columnar epithelial cells. II. Single "reserve cells" would not be needed for the regeneration of the cervical mucosa, since the normal columnar, cells themselves are capable of undergoing mitotic division. During such mitoses the mitotic spindle is located above the regular row of nuclei, the axis of the spindle running parallel to the basement membrane and surface of the cell, so that the daughter cells separate in a horizontal direction. Consequently, the term "reserve cell" with its functional implication is misleading and should be replaced by a more descriptive term such as the "subcylindrical"cell. III. It seems that for development of focal groups of subcylindrical cells according to I the columnar cells must proliferate locally. That proliferation could occur with the axis of the mitotic spindle rotated 90 degrees to be perpendicular to the basement membrane. More likely, however, the columnar cells seem to undergo mitoses with their spindles parallel to the basement membrane and accumulate locally to form two layers. On further proliferation of the basal layer, with the mitotic spindles rotated 90 degrees to be perpendicular to the basement membrane and with desquamation of the overlying columnar cells, the than multilayered epithelium may differentiate by indirect metaplasia into squamous epithelium.

["Chronic mastitis" and carcinoma of the breast seen from the viewpoint of Soviet-russian pathologist (author's transl)]. / Mastopathie und Mammakarzinom aus der Sicht sowjetrussischer Pathologen

The group around Prof. D. I. Golowin (Leningrad) distinguishes between the solid epithelial hyperplasia belonging to fibroadenomatosis of the breast and the solid form of lobular carcinoma in situ. The morphological details permitting the differential diagnosis are stressed (see table).

[Signs of secretion in the mastopathic breast (author's transl)]. / Sekretionserscheinungen in der mastopathischen Brustdrüse. Beiträge zur pathologischen Histologie der Mamma. X

Nuclei of the epithelia of the ducts can enter into the tongue- or clublike protrusion, which is characteristic of apocrine secretion. Together with the protrusions the nuclei may be discharged into the lumen, an occurrence one could call apocrine estrusion of nuclei. It can be found up to the sixth decade. II. Occasionally single lobuli show all signs of a fat- (milk-) secretion of fat (milk) and of apocrine estrusion of nuclei, leading to the formation of elements resembling colostrum bodies as they occur in the milk. The cases involved as a rule menstruating women. The secretion, therefore, seems to be due to hormonal influence on especially sensible lobuli of the mastopathic breast.