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Breast Oncology Glossary

100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026

Oncotype DX

Professional Technical IVT

Genomic test that analyzes tumor genes to predict chemotherapy benefit and recurrence risk.

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PARP inhibitor

Professional Technical IVT

A targeted therapy drug that blocks poly ADP-ribose polymerase enzymes, particularly effective in BRCA-mutated breast ca...

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partial mastectomy

Intermediate Technical IVT

Surgical removal of the tumor and a margin of surrounding normal tissue while preserving most of the breast.

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pathological complete response

Professional Technical IVT

Absence of invasive cancer in breast and lymph nodes after neoadjuvant treatment.

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pCR

Advanced Technical IVT

Abbreviation for pathological complete response, indicating no residual cancer after treatment.

Abbreviation Full entry →

peau d'orange

Intermediate Technical IVT

A clinical sign characterized by skin dimpling resembling an orange peel, typically associated with inflammatory breast...

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phyllodes tumor

Professional Technical IVT

A rare fibroepithelial breast tumor with leaf-like microscopic architecture, classified as benign, borderline, or malign...

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progesterone receptor

Professional Technical IVT

A protein found in breast cancer cells that can bind to the hormone progesterone and influence tumor growth and treatmen...

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radiation boost

Intermediate Technical IVT

Additional focused radiation dose delivered to the tumor bed after whole-breast irradiation to reduce local recurrence r...

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radioguided occult lesion localization

Professional Technical IVT

A surgical technique using radioactive seed placement to guide excision of non-palpable breast lesions.

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reactive lymphadenopathy

Intermediate Technical IVT

Enlargement of lymph nodes due to benign inflammatory response rather than malignant involvement.

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recurrence score

Advanced Technical IVT

A numerical value from genomic tests predicting breast cancer recurrence risk and chemotherapy benefit.

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residual disease

Intermediate Technical IVT

Remaining tumor tissue found at surgical resection after completion of neoadjuvant therapy, indicating incomplete respon...

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sentinel lymph node biopsy

Professional Technical IVT

Surgical procedure to examine the first lymph node where cancer is likely to spread from the primary tumor.

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skin-sparing mastectomy

Intermediate Technical IVT

Mastectomy technique that preserves the breast skin envelope while removing breast tissue and nipple-areola complex.

SSM
Technical Term Full entry →

SLNB

Professional Technical IVT

Abbreviation for sentinel lymph node biopsy, a surgical staging procedure.

Abbreviation Full entry →

specimen radiography

Intermediate Technical IVT

Immediate X-ray imaging of surgically excised breast tissue to confirm removal of targeted lesion.

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surgical clips

Intermediate Technical IVT

Small metallic markers placed in the tumor bed during breast-conserving surgery to mark the location for radiation thera...

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surgical margin

Intermediate Technical IVT

The distance between the edge of removed tumor and the boundary of excised tissue.

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T-stage

Advanced Technical IVT

The tumor size component of TNM staging system for breast cancer classification.

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tamoxifen

Intermediate Technical IVT

A selective estrogen receptor modulator used as hormone therapy for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

TAM
Technical Term Full entry →

tissue expander

Intermediate Technical IVT

Inflatable implant device used to gradually stretch chest tissue after mastectomy in preparation for permanent breast re...

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TNBC

Intermediate Technical IVT

Abbreviation for triple-negative breast cancer.

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triple-negative breast cancer

Professional Technical IVT

Breast cancer subtype lacking estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 protein overexpression.

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tumor bed

Intermediate Technical IVT

Anatomical site where breast tumor was located, marked for radiation therapy planning after surgical excision.

Technical Term Full entry →
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