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The main objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of US characteristics for disease-free survival (DFS) in BC patients. We retrospectively analyzed the ultrasonic images and clinical data of BC patients who had previously undergone breast surgery at least 10 years before study enrollment and divided them into a case group and a control group according to the cutoff value of 120 months for DFS. Correlation analysis was performed to identify US characteristics as independent predictors for DFS by multivariable logistic regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. A total of 374 patients were collected, including 174 patients in the case group with short-DFS and 200 patients in the control group with long-DFS. Three US characteristics (size on US, mass shape, mass growth orientation) and two clinical factors (axillary lymph node (ALN), molecular subtypes) were identified as independent predictors for DFS (p < 0.05). The ROC curve showed good performance of the multivariate linear regression model with the area under the curve being 0.777. The US characteristics of large size, irregular shape, and nonparallel orientation were significantly associated with short-DFS, which is a promising supplementary for clinicians to optimize clinical decisions and improve prognosis in BC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological and ultrasound characteristics of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) and compare these findings with those for hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive)/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (HER-2-negative) tumors. Seventy-five TNBCs and 135 HR-positive/HER-2-negative breast cancers were reviewed. Data from conventional ultrasound, Doppler vascularity and elastography were included in the analysis. TNBCs had a higher histologic grade and Ki-67 level. On ultrasound, TNBCs often appeared as microlobulated, markedly hypo-echoic masses with an abrupt interface boundary, posterior acoustic enhancement, absence of calcifications and more characteristics of surrounding tissue. Results from multivariate regression analysis revealed that margin, posterior acoustic features and surrounding tissue features of tumors were independent predictive factors in differentiating TNBCs from HR-positive/HER-2-negative tumors. Our results suggest that a thorough evaluation of sonographic findings might be useful in discriminating between TNBCs and HR-positive/HER-2-negative tumors, which may provide accurate evidence for clinical early diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose To identify the ultrasound and clinical features related to the different molecular subtypes of invasive breast cancer. Methods Sonographic and clinical data of 311 surgically confirmed breast cancer cases were retrospectively reviewed and compared based on various subtypes. Results Luminal A (LA) breast cancers were associated with a low histologic grade, spiculated margins, an echogenic rim and posterior acoustic attenuation. The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) subtype was characterized by a high grade, indistinct and spiculated margins, enhanced posterior acoustics, calcifications, and vascularity. Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) were more likely to present with a high tumor grade, circumscribed and microlobulated margins, and the absence of an echogenic rim and calcifications; to be markedly hypoechoic; and to have posterior acoustic enhancement and hypovascularity. Luminal B (LB) cancers were more likely to be associated with an indistinct margin and relative vascularity. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that the sonographic and clinical features of breast cancer were significantly correlated with the molecular subtype. The imaging findings of the different subtypes and their biological implications may provide additional auxiliary information for clinical diagnosis, systemic treatment and prognosis prediction. Highlights • Different subtypes of breast cancer have different ultrasound features. • There is no significant statistical difference between LB (HER2−) and LB (HER2+) subtypes. • The imaging findings and biological implications are helpful for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of our study was to assess the potential clinical value of ultrasound imaging in predicting risk category in patients with breast cancer. Three hundred thirty-six patients were enrolled and divided into a high-risk group (99, 29.5%) and mid- to low-risk group (237, 70.5%) according to the St. Gallen risk criteria. All data were retrospectively collected to analyze correlations between ultrasound features and risk category. The results revealed that the ultrasound features of irregular shape (p= 0.002), vertical growth orientation (p= 0.002), angular contour (p= 0.022) and high color Doppler flow imaging grade (p= 0.001) tended to be present in images of the high-risk group. Therefore, tumor ultrasound features should be recognized as an ideal option for determination of risk category in patients with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]