ABSTRACT
The largest and most certain change to histopathology routine practice, which is happening already, albeit slowly, is the move away from making diagnoses and assessment of prognostic features on glass microscopic slides. There are some features that are recognised to require care in examination on digital images of breast lesions; these include the assessment of mitoses, which is an intrinsic component of histological grade, and the recognition of weddellite (calcium oxalate) as a form of microcalcification. A liquid biopsy is not a technique per se, but allows assessment of various components of a tumour that may be potentially released into the circulation. The concept of identifying, and treating, minimal residual disease is routine in the management of haematological malignancies but it is new in breast cancer. The critics of tumour markers base their arguments on the lack of evidence of long-term benefit in changing therapy at the pre-clinical metastatic phase and the new side effects that would ensue.
