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. 2019 Sep;66(3):177-183.
doi: 10.1002/jmrs.336. Epub 2019 Aug 31.

Association between ultrasound morphologic features and histopathological findings of lobular carcinoma

Kathryn Malherbe  1 , Philippa Bresser  1
Affiliations

Association between ultrasound morphologic features and histopathological findings of lobular carcinoma

Kathryn Malherbe et al. J Med Radiat Sci. 2019 Sep.

Erratum in

  • Erratum.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Med Radiat Sci. 2019 Dec;66(4):301. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.370. J Med Radiat Sci. 2019. PMID: 31854136 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the incidence and recurrence rates of breast cancer, there are currently no biomarkers to predict which cases will develop into lobular carcinoma (LC). The purpose of this study was to determine the association between ultrasound morphologic characteristics of LC and histopathological classifications.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on the ultrasound images and histopathological reports of 100 patients with a confirmed LC diagnosis between January 2013 and December 2016.

Results: Morphologic ultrasound characteristics most frequently reported in the dataset of positively diagnosed LC patients were; irregular ultrasound shape (86%), hypoechoic echogenicity (88%), poorly circumscribed margin (95%), posterior acoustic enhancement (93%) and absent calcifications (81%). Using Fisher's extract test, it was found that stromal fibrosis, single file type pattern, atypical lobular hyperplasia and LC Grade II were significantly correlated with irregular shape and hypoechoic echogenicity.

Conclusion: A prognostic predictor tool can be designed from this study's findings which can then be used in practice to raise awareness of the unique morphometric markers related to LC of the breast.

Keywords: Atypical lobular hyperplasia; histology; lobular carcinoma; morphology; predictors; ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

There is no financial support or relationships that may pose conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Histological and sonographic appearance of invasive lobular carcinoma. (A) Histology specimen of LCIS. (B) Ultrasound image of LCIS (poorly circumscribed mass).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Histological and sonographic appearance of sclerosing adenosis/ epithelial hyperplasia. (A) Histology: epithelial hyperplasia, sclerosing adenosis. (B) Ultrasound: sclerosing adenosis. Note: Although benign finding, it is known to be in close proximity to early atypical hyperplasia in the breast tissue.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Histologic and sonographic appearance of an ‘ill‐defined mass’. (A) Histology: Classic type ILC. (B) Ultrasound image of ILC (ill‐defined mass).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Histological and sonographic appearance of atypical lobular hyperplasia. (A) Histology specimen: Lobular Carcinoma Grade II. (B) Ultrasound image of LC Grade II: (Poorly circumscribed mass, ill‐defined borders).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Histological and sonographic appearance of LC Grade II. (A) Histology specimen of ALH. (B) Ultrasound image of ALH (irregular, hypoechoic echogenicity).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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