Correlation of ultrasound findings with histology, tumor grade, and biological markers in breast cancer.
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.
Kim
Sung Hyun
SH
Department of Radiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Danwon-Gu, Ansan City, Kyungki-Do, Korea.
Seo
Bo Kyoung
BK
Lee
Juneyoung
J
Kim
Seok Jin
SJ
Cho
Kyu Ran
KR
Lee
Ki Yeol
KY
Je
Bo-Kyung
BK
Kim
Hee Young
HY
Kim
Young-Sik
YS
Lee
Ju-Han
JH
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone