title: Relationship between mammographic pattern and estrogen receptor content in breast cancer.
abstract: The mammographic pattern and its relationship to the estrogen receptor (ER) content was studied in 184 breast cancers. The tumors were divided into five radiographic subgroups: mass with spicules (A), diffuse (B), clusters of calcifications without a mass (C), circumscribed (D), and not visible at mammography (E). The ER content of tumors belonging to group A was higher than that of the other subgroups in both pre- and postmenopausal women. 121 tumors belonged to group A, of which 80% were ductal cancers. The tumors in groups B and C had very low ER values and those of groups D and E had intermediate values. The likelihood of finding a high estrogen receptor content of a tumor is thus greater when the tumor radiographically is seen as a mass with spicules than when seen as an increased attenuation or as only clusters of calcifications. It is suggested that patients with tumors belonging to group A should have a more favorable prognosis than patients with tumors belonging to groups B and C.
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen