title: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Features of Breast Malignancies with Different Sizes: Correlation with Prognostic Factors.
abstract: This study was to investigate the correlation between contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) characteristics with prognostic factors in breast cancers with different sizes. A retrospective analysis of CEUS characteristics of 104 pathologically proven malignant lesions from 104 women was conducted. Lesions were divided into two groups according to their size measured by US (Group 1: maximum diameter ≤20 mm; Group 2: maximum diameter >20 mm). Features including enhancement degree, order and pattern, enlargement of the enhancement area, and penetrating vessels on CEUS were evaluated. Pathologic prognostic factors, including estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and the expression of c-erb-B2, p53, Ki-67, and VEGF were assessed. Comparison of enhancement pattern parameters between Group 1 and Group 2 showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.0001). A significant correlation was found between enlargement of the enhancement area and ER positivity in Group 1 (P = 0.032). In Group 2 the absence of penetrating vessels was significantly associated with VEGF negativity (P = 0.022) and ER negativity (P = 0.022). Centripetal enhancement reflected VEGF negativity (P = 0.033) in lesions with diameter >20 mm. Thus, breast cancers with different sizes show different CEUS features; small breast cancers show homogeneous enhancement pattern while cancers with diameter >20 mm show homogeneous enhancement pattern. Some CEUS characteristics of differently sized breast cancers could be correlated with prognostic factors, which may be useful in prognosis assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Li-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Xiong
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media