Precursor Lesions of the Low-Grade Breast Neoplasia Pathway

The nonobligate precursor lesions columnar cell change/hyperplasia and flat epithelial atypia, atypical ductal hyperplasia and atypical lobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, and low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ share morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features supporting the existence of a low-grade breast neoplasia pathway. The practical implication for pathologists is that the identification of one of these lesions should prompt careful search for others. From a clinical management perspective, however, their designation as “precursor lesions” should not be overemphasized, as the risk of progression among the earliest lesions is exceedingly low. Factors determining which lesions will progress remain unknown.