Sonographic findings of pure ductal carcinoma in situ.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristic sonographic (US) findings of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in a large series.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the US findings of 126 cases of pure DCIS in 123 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer in our hospital. We analyzed the US findings of the lesions according to mass or nonmass abnormality, shape, margin, orientation, echogenicity, echotexture, boundary echo, posterior acoustic features, presence of associated ductal dilatation, presence of intralesional cystic focus, and presence of microcalcifications on US. We compared the US characteristics of pure DCIS with and without mammographic microcalcifications.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight cases of pure DCIS had microcalcifications and 48 had no microcalcifications on mammography (MG). Overall, 109 cases (86.5%) of pure DCIS were demonstrated on US. DCIS with microcalcifications on MG showed positive US findings in 79.5% of cases. The most common US finding was heterogeneous hyper- or isoechoic parenchyma with intralesional microcalcifications and without posterior acoustic features. DCIS without microcalcifications on MG showed positive US findings in 97.9% of cases. The most common US findings were masses with round or oval shape, microlobulated margin, parallel orientation, heterogeneous mild hypoechogenicity, and without boundary echo or posterior acoustic features. Ductal dilatations and intralesional cystic foci were present in 17.5% (22/126) and 23.8% (30/126) of pure DCIS, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, US could demonstrate 85.7% of pure DCIS cases, including 16 (12.7%) cases of clinically and mammographically occult pure DCIS. DCIS with and without microcalcifications on MG showed different US characteristics.
Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Mi Hee
MH
Lee
Eun Young
EY
Ko
Boo-Kyung
BK
Han
Jung Hee
JH
Shin
Eun Sook
ES
Ko
Soo Yeon
SY
Hahn
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*
breast; ductal carcinoma in situ; microcalcifications; sonography