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Published in: European Radiology 12/2013

01-12-2013 | Breast

Imaging features of sporadic breast cancer in women under 40 years old: 97 cases

Authors: Bénédicte Bullier, Gaétan MacGrogan, Hervé Bonnefoi, Gabrielle Hurtevent-Labrot, Edouard Lhomme, Véronique Brouste, Martine Boisserie-Lacroix

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 12/2013

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Abstract

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.
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Metadata
Title
Imaging features of sporadic breast cancer in women under 40 years old: 97 cases
Authors
Bénédicte Bullier
Gaétan MacGrogan
Hervé Bonnefoi
Gabrielle Hurtevent-Labrot
Edouard Lhomme
Véronique Brouste
Martine Boisserie-Lacroix
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 12/2013
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-2966-z

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