A woman with inflammatory breast cancer shows erythema and peau d'orange involving 2/3 of the breast. She has biopsy-proven dermal lymphatic invasion. According to AJCC staging, this is staged as:
- A T4d ✓
- B T3
- C T4a
- D T4b
Correct answer: A. T4d
Explanation
Inflammatory breast cancer is classified as T4d regardless of tumor size, because it is a clinicopathological entity defined by erythema and edema involving at least one-third of the skin with biopsy-proven dermal lymphatic invasion. T4a indicates extension to chest wall; T4b indicates skin edema or ulceration without inflammatory features; T4c combines T4a and T4b. T4d specifically denotes inflammatory carcinoma.
Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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