Do Histopathological Features and Microcalcification Affect the Elasticity of Breast Cancer?

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound in medicine 2017-06, Vol.36 (6), p.1101-1108
• Main Authors: Durhan, Gamze, Öztekin, Pelin Seher, Ünverdi, Hatice, Değirmenci, Tülin, Durhan, Abdullah, Karakaya, Jale, Nercis Koşar, Pınar, Necip Köseoğlu, Enver, Hücümenoğlu, Sema
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - physiopathology; Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging; Calcinosis - pathology; Calcinosis - physiopathology; Elastic Modulus; elasticity; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - methods; Female; histopathology; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Mammography - methods; microcalcification; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Grading; Observer Variation; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Stress, Mechanical
• ISSN: 0278-4297; 1550-9613
• DOI: 10.7863/ultra.16.06064

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate any association between histological grade, molecular subtypes of breast cancer, and strain elastography, and to investigate whether microcalcification affects the stiffness of tumor in breast cancers with the same histological grade. Methods Between April 2015 and March 2016, 94 lesions of 94 patients with the diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma were included in the study. Strain elastography was performed on all patients before biopsy. Histological grades (Grades 1, 2, and 3), molecular subtypes (luminal A, luminal B, Her‐2, and basal‐like), and strain ratio (SR) were compared. In the same histological grades, patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of microcalcifications, and the groups were compared with each other. Results Compared with Grades 1 (20.5) and 2 (23.7), Grade 3 (11.7) showed lower SR values (Grade 3‐2, P = .01; Grade 3‐1, P = .2). The groups with microcalcification had slightly higher SR in all histological grades, but not of statistical significance. In molecular subtypes, luminal A and B demonstrated higher SR, whereas HER2 and basal‐like had lower SR (P > .05 for all group comparisons). Conclusions Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinomas are different from other grades with lower SR values. The presence of microcalcifications and molecular subtypes do not affect elasticity like a high histological grade does.