Breslow

Breslow is a surname that appears in medical literature and statistics, and is associated with several eponymous concepts in those fields. The term is most commonly encountered in two distinct areas: melanoma pathology and epidemiological statistics.

In melanoma pathology, Breslow thickness (also called Breslow depth) is a measure of how deeply melanoma cells have invaded the skin. It is typically reported in millimeters and is measured from the top of the granular layer of the epidermis to the deepest point of tumor invasion. Breslow thickness is a key prognostic factor and influences staging and treatment decisions, including the consideration of sentinel lymph node biopsy. While higher thickness generally indicates a worse prognosis, other factors such as ulceration, mitotic rate, and the patient’s overall health also contribute to outcomes.

In statistics, the Breslow-Day test assesses the homogeneity of odds ratios across strata in a stratified analysis. It is used to determine whether the effect of an exposure on an outcome is consistent across different subgroups. The test is named after Ned Breslow, who contributed to methods for analyzing stratified contingency data and 2x2 tables.

As a surname, Breslow is borne by various individuals in science and academia. The term Breslow persists in scholarly use primarily through these two well-known applications in oncology and biostatistics, where eponymous measures provide clinical and analytical guidance.