Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast: mammographic characteristics and computer-aided detection

To characterize the mammographic appearance of invasive lobular carcinoma in a large series of screening-detected consecutive breast cancers and to evaluate the ability of a computer-aided detection system to mark these carcinomas.

Investigators used the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System lexicon to characterize lesions as part of a retrospective review of 90 screening mammographic examinations that led to biopsy-proved diagnosis of 94 invasive lobular carcinoma lesions. The 40 available prior mammographic examinations (obtained 9-24 months earlier) were also reviewed to characterize any visible findings. The results of a computer-aided detection analysis were compared with the images, and the sensitivity of the algorithm was calculated for correct detection of the lesions.

Fifty-six (60%) of 94 lesions manifested as masses, of which 40 (71%) were described as irregular and spiculated; 20 (21%) of 94, as architectural distortions; and the remainder, 18 (20%), as either asymmetric densities or calcifications. On the screening mammograms showing biopsy-proved cancers, the sensitivity of the computer-aided detection system was 86 (91%) of 94 lesions. Thirty-one of the 40 prior mammograms showed retrospectively visible findings, and 24 (77%) of 31 were marked by the computer-aided detection system.

Spiculated masses and architectural distortions are the predominant appearances of invasive lobular carcinoma, and a computer-aided detection system correctly marked a high percentage of invasive lobular carcinoma lesions.