Background:
Different molecular breast cancer subtypes present different biologic features, treatment options, and clinical prognoses. The breast cancer imaging phenotype may help precisely classify breast cancer in a non-invasive manner.
Objective:
To identify the association between the imaging and clinicopathologic features of invasive breast cancer according to the molecular subtype.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 313 consecutive women
with breast cancer who underwent surgery between March 2018 and February 2019. Preoperative
imaging studies were also reviewed and the association between the clinicopathologic and imaging
features was evaluated according to the molecular subtype.
Results:
On mammography, the presence of microcalcifications was correlated with the human epidermal factor receptor 2-positive subtype (67%, 14/21). Luminal A and B tumors were more likely
to have a spiculated margin (57% [63/110] and 41% [34/81]), while human epidermal factor receptor 2-positive and triple-negative breast cancers were more likely to have an indistinct margin
(56% [10/18] and 35% [17/48]). On ultrasonography, luminal A tumors were likely to be depicted
as masses with an irregular shape (85%, 115/136) and spiculated margin (49%, 66/136). On magnetic resonance imaging, triple-negative breast cancer appeared as a mass (n=13) that frequently
had an irregular shape (62%, 8/13) but was more likely to be oval or round (39%, 5/13) than other
subtypes.
Conclusion:
Some imaging features on mammography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance
imaging could be useful predictors of the molecular subtype of breast cancer and may aid precision
medicine development for patients with breast cancer according to the subtype.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features in Different Types of Invasive Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature
