Terminal ductal lobular unit
Last revised by Dr Mostafa El-Feky ◉ on 09 Mar 2021
Citation, DOI and article data
Citation:
Pacifici, S., El-Feky, M. Terminal ductal lobular unit. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 20 Sep 2021) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/15228
DOI:
-
Permalink:
rID:
15228
Article created:
03 Oct 2011 by Stefano Pacifici
Revisions:
19 times by 9 users - see full revision history
System:
Section:
Synonyms:
- Terminal ductal lobular unit (TDLU)
- TDLU
- Terminal ductal and lobular units (TDLU's)
- Terminal ductal and lobular unit (TDLU)
Each breast lobe is drained by a collecting duct terminating in the nipple. The collecting duct has several branches, which ends in a terminal ductal-lobular unit (TDLU), the basic functional and histopathological unit of the breast. The TDLU is composed of a small segment of the terminal duct and a cluster of ductules, which are the effective secretory units. The functional structures are surrounded by specialized connective tissue. A normal terminal ductal-lobular unit ranges from 1-4 mm.
The TDLU consists of the:
- extralobular terminal duct
- intralobular terminal duct
- lobule (functional unit of the breast)
Function
This is the most important structure in the breast. It is the glandular unit that produces milk.
Related pathology
It is postulated that most cancers and benign lesions arise in the terminal duct either inside or just proximal to the lobule. For example:
References
- 1. Canon CL, Canon C. McGraw-Hill Specialty Board Review Radiology. McGraw-Hill Professional. (2009) ISBN:0071601643. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Dähnert W. Radiology Review Manual. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2011) ISBN:1609139437. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Tabár L, Dean PB, Tot T. Teaching atlas of mammography. George Thieme Verlag. (2001) ISBN:0865779627. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Modena S. Trattato di senologia. Piccin-Nuova Libraria. (2006) ISBN:8829918091. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. Cardeñosa G. Clinical breast imaging, a patient focused teaching file. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2006) ISBN:0781762677. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 6. Paredes ES. Atlas of mammography. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2007) ISBN:0781764335. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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