cribriformtype

Cribriformtype is a descriptive term used in pathology to refer to tumors exhibiting a cribriform growth pattern. The word derives from cribriform, meaning sieve-like, from Latin cribrum. In cribriformtype lesions, neoplastic cells form nests or glands with multiple small, round spaces that resemble a sieve.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary glands is the classic setting in which cribriform architecture is described; its hallmark is a cribriform (cylindromatous) pattern with periodic spaces filled by hyaline material and basement membrane–like material, with other patterns such as tubular and solid also recognized. In breast pathology, invasive cribriform carcinoma is a variant of invasive ductal carcinoma characterized by well-formed cribriform glands with punched-out lumina; prognosis is generally favorable but depends on stage and other factors. In prostate cancer, cribriform pattern is recognized as a high-grade architectural pattern, usually aligned with Gleason pattern 4 and often associated with worse prognosis than non-cribriform acinar patterns.

Other contexts include cribriform patterns described in certain neuroendocrine and other basaloid tumors, but cribriformtype remains a descriptive descriptor rather than a single tumor entity. Clinically, recognizing a cribriformtype pattern helps pathologists categorize the tumor within a specific disease context, informs grading or risk stratification, and can influence treatment decisions.

See also: cribriform pattern, adenoid cystic carcinoma, invasive cribriform carcinoma, Gleason grading.