Correlation between three-dimensional ultrasound features and pathological prognostic factors in breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound features with prognostic factors in invasive ductal carcinoma.


METHODS
Surgical resection specimens of 85 invasive ductal carcinomas of 85 women who had undergone 3D ultrasound were included. Morphology features and vascularization perfusion on 3D ultrasound were evaluated. Pathologic prognostic factors, including tumour size, histological grade, lymph node status, oestrogen and progesterone receptor status (ER, PR), c-erbB-2 and p53 expression, and microvessel density (MVD) were determined. Correlations of 3D ultrasound features and prognostic factors were analysed.


RESULTS
The retraction pattern in the coronal plane had a significant value as an independent predictor of a small tumour size (P = 0.014), a lower histological grade (P = 0.009) and positive ER or PR expression status (P = 0.001, 0.044). The retraction pattern with a hyperechoic ring only existed in low-grade and ER-positive tumours. The presence of the hyperechoic ring strengthened the ability of the retraction pattern to predict a good prognosis of breast cancer. The increased intra-tumour vascularization index (VI, the mean tumour vascularity) reflected a higher histological grade (P = 0.025) and had a positive correlation with MVD (r = 0.530, P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The retraction pattern and histogram indices of VI provided by 3D ultrasound may be useful in predicting prognostic information about breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional ultrasound can potentially provide prognostic evaluation of breast cancer. The retraction pattern and hyperechoic ring in the coronal plane suggest good prognosis. The increased intra-tumour vascularization index reflects a higher histological grade. The intra-tumour vascularization index is positively correlated with microvessel density.
Department of Ultrasound, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Jun
J
Jiang
Ya-qing
YQ
Chen
Yi-zhuan
YZ
Xu
Ming-li
ML
Chen
Yun-kai
YK
Zhu
Wen-bin
WB
Guan
Xiao-jin
XJ
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone