Breast cancer: current recommendations for pathologists on the basis of the S3 guidelines

Optimal management of breast cancer patients is based on efficient multidisciplinary cooperation. The role of pathologists is to survey those parameters that are crucial for the individually adopted therapy. Thereby, distinct quality criteria have to be considered concerning the handling of the tissue samples, including preparation and examination, as well as the analytical methods used. The interdisciplinary S3 guideline Diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of breast cancer includes recommendations concerning these aspects based on current evidence. Its third edition was published in July 2012. In this article an overview of the topics relevant for pathologists that have been modified in the latest edition is provided.