Correlation of Ultrasonographic Findings and Pathologic Prognostic Predictions in Breast Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Advanced ultrasound technology enables detailed lesion characterization beyond simple solid/cystic differentiation.
• Classifying breast lesions based on descriptive ultrasonographic features is an evolving area in diagnostic imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between ultrasonographic image features and the grade of malignancy in breast cancer.
• To determine if ultrasound can predict the preoperative prognosis of breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 107 patients with infiltrative ductal carcinoma using ultrasound.
• Classification of ultrasonographic findings into three types based on shape and border characteristics: Type I (round/oval, regular border), Type II (partially irregular), and Type III (irregular).

Main Results:

• Type I ultrasonographic features were associated with a higher frequency of Grade 1 malignancy.
• For tumors < 2.0 cm, Type I was linked to significantly lower lymph node metastasis and c-erbB-2 positivity rates.
• Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity was not significantly different across types or sizes.

Conclusions:

• The proposed ultrasonographic classification system reflects malignancy grade for breast cancers < 2.0 cm.
• Ultrasonographic findings show potential for predicting preoperative prognosis in T1 stage breast cancer.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings and expand their clinical application.