title: Correlation of ultrasound findings with histology, tumor grade, and biological markers in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ultrasound has been used successfully to differentiate benign and malignant breast lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between ultrasound and prognostic indicators in breast cancer such as histological type, tumor grade, and biological markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasound findings (shape, margin, orientation, boundary, echo pattern, posterior acoustic feature, and presence of calcifications) of 458 breast cancers were analyzed and correlated with the tumor type, tumor grade, and biological markers by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The biological markers were estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER-2/neu.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Invasive cancers displayed more frequently an irregular shape, a not parallel orientation, and a hypoechoic or complex echo pattern than carcinoma in situ cases (p < 0.05). Poorly differentiated invasive cancers had more frequently not circumscribed margins, an abrupt boundary, and a hypoechoic or complex echo pattern than moderately/well differentiated cancers (p < 0.05). Estrogen or progesterone receptor negative cancers more often displayed a hypoechoic or complex echo pattern and HER-2/neu positive cancers had more calcifications (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound pattern is correlated with tumor type, tumor grade, and biological markers in breast cancers and it may be useful for prediction of prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Danwon-Gu, Ansan City, Kyungki-Do, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bo Kyoung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Juneyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seok Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu Ran
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Ki Yeol
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bo-Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Je
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju-Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone