Relationship between mammographic pattern and estrogen receptor content in breast cancer

The mammographic pattern and its relationship to the estrogen receptor (ER) content was studied in 184 breast cancers. The tumors were divided into five radiographic subgroups: mass with spicules (A), diffuse (B), clusters of calcifications without a mass (C), circumscribed (D), and not visible at mammography (E). The ER content of tumors belonging to group A was higher than that of the other subgroups in both pre- and postmenopausal women. 121 tumors belonged to group A, of which 80% were ductal cancers. The tumors in groups B and C had very low ER values and those of groups D and E had intermediate values. The likelihood of finding a high estrogen receptor content of a tumor is thus greater when the tumor radiographically is seen as a mass with spicules than when seen as an increased attenuation or as only clusters of calcifications. It is suggested that patients with tumors belonging to group A should have a more favorable prognosis than patients with tumors belonging to groups B and C.