Imaging findings and accuracy of core needle biopsy in mucinous carcinoma of the breast

Abstract

CNB was found to be a highly reliable diagnostic tool for diagnosing mucinous carcinoma in this selected material. US findings of pure mucinous carcinoma were variable, however, all reached BI-RADS 4 category. The presence of posterior acoustic enhancement beneath a solid breast lesion should raise suspicion of mucinous carcinoma. Most of the tumors appeared as BI-RADS 4 lesions in US and in mammography thus making both a useful tool for raising a suspicion of malignancy in mucinous cancers.

Mucinous carcinomas of the breast: Imaging features and potential for misdiagnosis

“…PMBC are commonly lobulated; 6,9,14,15 however, the lesions in our series often demonstrated additional mammographic features that raise the suspicion for malig-nancy. This Australian study is the largest contiguous series of screen-detected PMBC in an asymptomatic population to date.…”

“…PMBC are commonly lobulated; 6,9,14,15 however, the lesions in our series often demonstrated additional mammographic features that raise the suspicion for malig-nancy. 6,14 Although 25% of tumours in this study could be identified retrospectively on an earlier mammogram, which is lower than the 38% described by Dhillon et al, 16 delay in diagnosis did not affect prognosis, with no significant differences in tumour size (12.5 mm compared with 15 mm) or axillary nodal metastasis (5% compared with 9%). None of the lesions in this large series presented mammographically with completely smooth, sharply defined margins typical of a simple breast cyst.…”

“…Nonpalpable PMBC are less likely to be seen sonographically, 6 with only 39% identified in a recent screening study. Nonpalpable PMBC are less likely to be seen sonographically, 6 with only 39% identified in a recent screening study.…”

“…3 The incidence of mucinous breast carcinomas is agerelated, constituting 7% of carcinomas in women 75 years or older but only 1% of carcinomas in women younger than 35 years. 5 In addition, compared with IDC, mucinous carcinomas have a low rate of nodal metastasis, smaller tumour load per volume, [5][6][7] and are associated with a good prognosis, with 90% survival at 10 years. 5 In addition, compared with IDC, mucinous carcinomas have a low rate of nodal metastasis, smaller tumour load per volume, [5][6][7] and are associated with a good prognosis, with 90% survival at 10 years.…”

“…4 It is a slow-growing tumour, with an estimated growth rate of one-third of that of IDC. 5 In addition, compared with IDC, mucinous carcinomas have a low rate of nodal metastasis, smaller tumour load per volume, [5][6][7] and are associated with a good prognosis, with 90% survival at 10 years. 8 Infiltrative tumour cells and fibrosis in the nonmucinous component of mixed neoplasms 2 dictate tumour behaviour and patient prognosis, and influence the imaging appearances of pure compared with mixed mucinous carcinomas.…”