Sonographic morphology of infiltrating breast carcinoma: relationship with the shape of the hyaluronan extracellular matrix.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the shape of the sonographic image of invasive breast cancer with the shape of the corresponding histopathologic section stained for components of the extracellular matrix, hyaluronan, and collagen.


METHODS
We studied 22 cases of breast carcinoma. Among them, 13 were visible on both sonography and mammography, whereas 9 were visible only on sonography. We compared the sonographic images with the histologic sections of the same carcinomas after staining with alcian blue for hyaluronan and Masson trichrome for collagen.


RESULTS
We have shown that the shape of the sonographic image of breast cancer is similar to the shape of its hyaluronan extracellular matrix.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding explains why breast sonography is so sensitive for detection of invasive carcinoma and why some invasive cancers are not visible on mammography.
Vignal
Philippe
P
Unité de Sénologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Meslet
Marie Reine
MR
Roméo
Jean Michel
JM
Feuilhade
Franck
F
D000423:Alcian Blue; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary
D004396:Coloring Agents; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D000423:Alcian Blue