01-12-2013 | Breast
Imaging features of sporadic breast cancer in women under 40 years old: 97 cases
Published in: European Radiology | Issue 12/2013
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Objectives
To evaluate characteristic features of mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sporadic breast cancer in women <40 years and to determine correlations with pathological and biological factors.
Methods
A retrospective review of radiological, clinicopathological and biological features of sporadic breast cancers for women under 40 years at our institution between 2007-2012 covering 91 patients. Mammography was available for 97 lesions, ultrasound for 94 and MRI for 38.
Results
The most common imaging features were masses, nearly all classified BI-RADS 4 or 5. On mammography microcalcifications alone accounted for 31 %, all suspicious. There were 42.6 % luminal B, 24.5 % luminal A, 19.1 % HER2-enriched and 10.6 % triple-negative (TN) tumours by immunohistochemistry. HER2 overexpression was correlated with the presence of calcifications at mammography (P = 0.03). TN cancers more often had an oval shape and abrupt interface at ultrasound and rim enhancement on MRI. MRI features were suspicious for all cancers and rim enhancement of a mass was a significant predictor of triple-negative tumours (P = 0.01).
Conclusions
The imaging characteristics of cancers in patients under 40 years without proven gene mutations do not differ from their older counterparts, but appear correlated to phenotypic profiles, which have a different distribution in young women compared to the general population.
Key Points
• Young women have more luminal B/HER2+ phenotypes than older women.
• The appearance of cancers is correlated with their biological profiles.
• Sporadic breast cancer imaging in young women is generally classified BI-RADS 4/5.
• Triple-negative cancers can be misinterpreted as benign, requiring thorough imaging analysis.