Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: Mammographic and sonographic findings

✍ Scribed by Park, Jeong Mi; Han, Boo-Kyung; Moon, Woo Kyung; Choe, Yeon Hyun; Ahn, Sei-Hyun; Gong, Gyungyub

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 670 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0091-2751
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0096(200005)28:4<179::aid-jcu5>3.0.co;2-y

✦ Synopsis

Purpose. We investigated the mammographic, sonographic, and pathologic findings in metaplastic carcinoma of the breast.

Methods. The mammographic (n = 16) and sonographic (n = 11) findings in 16 patients with metaplastic carcinoma of the breast were analyzed retrospectively along with pathologic findings. Whenever possible, results of preoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy and immunohistochemical studies were obtained.

Results. All patients presented with a palpable breast mass. The mean size of the lesions at pathologic examination was 4.2 cm. On mammography, 15 patients had a mass (1 patient had 2 masses), and 1 patient had only clustered microcalcifications without an associated mass. The mean longest diameter of the 16 masses on mammography was 4.6 cm. Eleven lesions (69%) were round to ovoid in shape, 13 lesions (81%) showed ill-defined or obscured margins, and 10 lesions (63%) showed associated architectural distortion. On sonography, 6 (55%) of 11 lesions were round to ovoid, 9 lesions (82%) had well-defined margins, and 6 lesions (55%) showed complex echogenicity with solid and cystic components. At pathologic examination, 4 of these 6 lesions showed hemorrhagic or cystic necrosis. Axillary lymph nodes were positive in 6 (40%) of 15 patients in whom axillary node dissection was performed.

Conclusions. Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast manifests as a rapidly growing, mammographically ill-defined round mass with associated architectural distortion on mammograms. Complex echogenicity with solid and cystic components may be seen sonographically and is related to hemorrhagic or cystic necrosis seen pathologically.