[Size distribution, forms and variations of glandular tissue of the breast. Histometric examination on the question of the effect of contraceptives on the lobular parenchyma].

In order to prove or disprove the assumption that hormonal contraceptives cause metrically measurable changes of the lobular breast parenchyma, a histometric study was done of breast biopsies. Biopsies were taken from normal and hyperplastic juvenile breast, sexually mature breast, lobular hyperplasia, lobular secretion (e.g., hyperprolactinemia) and in situ lobular carcinoma. Findings of these were compared with biopsies from breasts of women taking hormonal contraceptives. Parameters studied were: lobular surface, and diameter, number of acini per lobule, total and single acinar surface. Normal, sexually mature breast showed an average lobular surface of 0.23 sq mm with an average acinar number of 29.6 (25-34). Juvenile breast showed a smaller average lobular surface and less acini per lobule. Lobular hyperplasia showed an increase in lobular surface mostly resulting from an increased number of acini, while in lobular secretion the increased lobular surface resulted from enlarged acinar surface caused by transformation of acini to alveoli. The larger lobular surface in carcinoma in situ was likewise due to an increase in lobular surface due to enhanced epithelial proliferation causing an increase in acinar surface. Morphological variants (apocrine and clear cell metaplasia