Radiologic Findings of a Rare Subtype of Invasive Breast Cancer with Poor Prognosis: Metaplastic Carcinoma of the...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mammographic, sonographic and MRI findings of metaplastic breast carcinoma.

In this retrospective review study, we analyzed the medical files of 9600 patients who were treated for invasive breast cancers. Clinical information, histopathologic and radiologic findings of 65 patients were included in this study. All existing radiologic images and medical reports were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-three patients had MG, 58 patients had US and 7 patients had MRI imaging results.

Mammographically, the most frequent presentations of MPBC were round shape, microlobulated margin and high density masses. Calcifications with or without masses were not a frequent finding. The most common sonographic findings were round shape, partially indistinct angular margin, hypoechoic and heterogeneous echo patterns and no posterior feature masses. All lesions were presented as masses rather than non-mass enhancements on magnetic resonance imaging. Features of masses had more malignant feature on MRI than other modalities in all 7 patients.

Metaplastic breast carcinoma is one of the rarest poorly differentiated invasive breast carcinomas. Interestingly, these aggressive tumors demonstrate benign or moderately malign features on imaging methods. This appearance of MPBC can cause it to be misdiagnosed as a benign breast lesion especially in young women. MPBC should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of large palpable breast masses. Therefore, follow-up at short intervals and/or multimodality imaging studies which include breast MRI are important for the diagnosis of MPBC.