Ultrasonography.  2017 Apr;36(2):131-138. 10.14366/usg.16028.

Magnetic resonance imaging and pathological characteristics of pure mucinous carcinoma in the breast according to echogenicity on ultrasonography

• Shin YG
• Kim EK
• Kim MJ
• Yoon JH
• Moon HJ

• KMID: 2376064
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14366/usg.16028

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to explore the clinical and pathological characteristics of pure mucinous breast carcinoma (PMBC) according to internal echogenicity on ultrasonography (US).
METHODS
Thirty-three patients with PMBC diagnosed at surgery were included in this study. Cases of PMBC were classified according to internal echogenicity on US. The imaging features on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and clinicohistopathological characteristics were compared between the hypoechogenic and the isoechogenic to hyperechogenic groups.
RESULTS
Eleven cases of PMBC (33.3%) exhibited hypoechogenicity on US, while 22 cases (66.7%) exhibited isoechogenicity or hyperechogenicity. Of the isoechogenic to hyperechogenic PMBCs, 95.5% showed a high signal on T2-weighted images, which was a significantly greater percentage than was observed for the hypoechogenic group (54.5%) (P=0.010). Of the hypoechogenic PMBCs, 63.6% showed a washout pattern in the delayed phase, which was substantially more than the result of 23.8% observed for the isoechogenic to hyperechogenic PMBCs (P=0.053).
CONCLUSION
PMBCs with isoechogenicity or hyperechogenicity were more likely to show a high signal intensity on T2-weighted images than hypoechogenic PMBCs. However, other MR imaging and clinicohistopathological characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Adenocarcinoma, mucinous; Magnetic resonance imaging; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous*
Breast Neoplasms
Breast*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Mucins*
Ultrasonography*
Mucins