This text is designed to present a practical and concise handbook on the diagnosis and management of breast diseases for quick reference by trainees and practitioners. It emphasizes the approach to diagnosis and management of breast tumors written from the perspectives of each member of the multidisciplinary management team (pathologist, radiologist, medical oncologist, surgical oncologist and radiation oncologist). The text is divided into two sections. The first section is written by each subspecialty with focus on the overview and management of breast tumors, current controversies, position statement when necessary, and quality assurance. The radiology overview addresses questions such as when to perform breast imaging, the difference between screening and diagnostic mammograms, when to perform Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, the meaning of radiological descriptors, and lastly the cost effectiveness and quality assurance of radiologic assessment of breast tumors. The pathology overview addresses approaches to evaluation of breast biopsies and excision for calcifications, densities, distortion, asymmetry and masses, pitfalls to histologic interpretations, the utility of immunohistochemical stains, quality assurance and cost effectiveness, and current controversies and position statements. Surgical, medical and radiation oncology overviews address when to treat and when to refrain, current treatment options or modalities and the factors informing choice, utility of genomics or molecular diagnostics in management, quality assurance, controversies and position statements. The second section discusses common breast tumors (focusing on radiologic-pathologic diagnosis and correlation) using the practical approach highlighted in the first section. The entities discussed include but are not limited to fibroepithelial tumors, papillary lesions, spindle cell lesions, in-situ and invasive carcinomas. The uniqueness of this book is the focus on the integrated subspecialty approaches with perspectives directly from subspecialty experts and emphasis on how each member of the multidisciplinary team can contribute to the optimal care of the breast cancer patient. The text aims to bridge the gap of the "what next" question and foster a comprehensive, team approach for trainees and practicing physicians by providing information about specific entities from diagnosis to treatment. Generous illustrations and tables in the text enhance appreciation of the entities being discussed.
About the Author: Michael Ola Idowu, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Pathology
Program Director, Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship
Director, Breast Pathology and Anatomic Pathology Quality Management
Director, Tissue and Data Acquisition and Analysis Core (TDAAC), Massey Cancer Center
Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU HEALTH)
1200 East Marshall Street,
P. O. Box 980662,
Richmond, Virginia 23298
Email: michael.idowu@vcuhealth.org
Priti Anilkumar Shah, M.D.
Division of Breast Imaging
Department of Radiology,
Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU HEALTH)9000 Stony Point Parkway
P.O. Box 980304
Richmond, VA 23235
Email: priti.shah@vcuhealth.org
Mary Helen Hackney, MD, FACP
Associate Professor of Hematology Oncology and Palliative Care
Director of Rural Cancer Outreach ProgramDepartment of Internal Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU HEALTH)
401 College Street
P O Box 980037
Richmond, Virginia 23298
Phone: (804) 628-1933; Fax: (804) 827-4150
Email: mhhackne@vcu.edu
Margaret Mary Grimes, M.D., M.Ed.
Department of Pathology
Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU HEALTH)
P.O. Box 980662
Richmond, VA 23298-0662
Phone: (804) 828-3832; Fax: (804) 827-1078
E-mail: grimesmm@gmail.com
Charles Edward Geyer, Jr., MD, FACP
Professor, Hematology Oncology and Palliative Care
Associate Director for Clinical Research, Massey Cancer Center
Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU HEALTH)
McGlothlin Medical Education Center Room 12-217
1201 East Marshall St.
PO Box 980070
Richmond, VA 23298-0070
Email: cegeyer@vcu.edu
Douglas William Arthur, MD
Professor and Chair, Radiation Oncology
Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU HEALTH)
Department of Radiation Oncology
P.O. Box 980058
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0058
Email: douglas.arthur@vcuhealth.org
Harry Douglas Bear
Professor and Division Chair, Surgical Oncology
Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU HEALTH)
Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology
Massey Cancer Center
P.O. Box 980011,
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0011
Email: harry.bear@vcuhealth.org
