title: Sonographic and pathologic image analysis of pure mucinous carcinoma of the breast.
abstract: The aims of this study were to elucidate sonographic and histologic features of pure mucinous carcinoma (P-MC) of the breast using quantitative analysis and to evaluate the relationship between quantitative analysis and visual qualitative assessment. Eleven P-MCs (nine patients) were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Three experts assessed these sonographic images using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon. For assessment of internal echoes and posterior echoes, quantitative measures were determined using ImageJ software. Histologic thin sections were stained for classification into separate parts of the tumor (stroma, mucin and cancer cells) and were digitized. Internal echoes were isoechoic in 7 of 11 (63.6%) tumors and hypoechoic in 4 of 11 (36.4%); all P-MCs were "enhanced" in qualitative evaluation. As internal echoes increased, the proportion of stroma increased and that of mucin decreased. The high level of internal echoes is correlated with reflection and back-scattering, which are caused mainly by the interface between mucin and stroma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. kaoku@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaoku
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Yasuhisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tohno
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiina
authors.forename: Kengo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kajihara
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shinkura
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*