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Correlation between three-dimensional ultrasound features and pathological prognostic factors in breast cancer

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the correlation of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound features with prognostic factors in invasive ductal carcinoma.

Methods

Surgical resection specimens of 85 invasive ductal carcinomas of 85 women who had undergone 3D ultrasound were included. Morphology features and vascularization perfusion on 3D ultrasound were evaluated. Pathologic prognostic factors, including tumour size, histological grade, lymph node status, oestrogen and progesterone receptor status (ER, PR), c-erbB-2 and p53 expression, and microvessel density (MVD) were determined. Correlations of 3D ultrasound features and prognostic factors were analysed.

Results

The retraction pattern in the coronal plane had a significant value as an independent predictor of a small tumour size (P = 0.014), a lower histological grade (P = 0.009) and positive ER or PR expression status (P = 0.001, 0.044). The retraction pattern with a hyperechoic ring only existed in low-grade and ER-positive tumours. The presence of the hyperechoic ring strengthened the ability of the retraction pattern to predict a good prognosis of breast cancer. The increased intra-tumour vascularization index (VI, the mean tumour vascularity) reflected a higher histological grade (P = 0.025) and had a positive correlation with MVD (r = 0.530, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

The retraction pattern and histogram indices of VI provided by 3D ultrasound may be useful in predicting prognostic information about breast cancer.

Key Points

• Three-dimensional ultrasound can potentially provide prognostic evaluation of breast cancer.

• The retraction pattern and hyperechoic ring in the coronal plane suggest good prognosis.

• The increased intra-tumour vascularization index reflects a higher histological grade.

• The intra-tumour vascularization index is positively correlated with microvessel density.

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Ya-qing Chen. This study has received funding by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81271595, 81301233), and the Shanghai Jiaotong University Foundation (11XJ21019, YG2011MS43). Xiao-jin Wang kindly provided statistical advice for this manuscript. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study. Methodology: retrospective, diagnostic or prognostic study, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ultrasound, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Jun Jiang, Ya-qing Chen, Yi-zhuan Xu, Ming-li Chen & Yun-kai Zhu

  2. Department of Pathology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Wen-bin Guan

  3. Teaching and Research Section of Statistics, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 227 Chongqing South Road, Shanghai, 200025, China

    Xiao-jin Wang

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  1. Jun Jiang
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Correspondence to Ya-qing Chen.

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Jiang, J., Chen, Yq., Xu, Yz. et al. Correlation between three-dimensional ultrasound features and pathological prognostic factors in breast cancer. Eur Radiol 24, 1186–1196 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3135-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3135-8

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