Clinical Imaging of the Heterogeneous Group of Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) can be divided into subtypes of basal-like (BL), mesenchymal-like (ML), luminal androgen receptor (LAR), and immunomodulatory (IM). The aim of our study was to assess whether there are distinct radiologic features within the different TNBC subtypes and whether this has potential clinical impact.

Patients and methods: Imaging pictures of 135 patients with TNBC were re-evaluated. TNBC subtyping was performed on asservated tumor tissue using a panel of antibodies.

Results: Mammographic margins of LAR-TNBC were more often spiculated (24.3% versus 0-4.1%). BL-TNBC presented more frequent a mass without calcification in mammogram than other subtypes (71.4% versus 48.6-57.9%). In ultrasound, ML and LAR were described more often with smooth borders.

Conclusion: The histopathological subtype of TNBC influences its presentation in ultrasound and mammogram. This can reflect a different growth pattern of the subtypes and may have an impact on the early diagnosis of TNBC.

Keywords: TNBC subtypes; Triple negative breast cancer; breast cancer; clinical imaging; ultrasound.