The management of breast cancer and its
prognosis is dependent on numerous biological and molecular variables. Cancers
which do not express receptors for Oestrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) or human
epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2, previously ERBB2) are termed triple negative
(TRN). TRN cancers tend to occur in younger women and confer a worse prognosis
than the other breast cancer subtypes. Early identification of these TRN
subtypes could facilitate aggressive therapy and hence better outcomes.
Some recent publications have looked at
image characteristics of TRN cancers and the diagnostic accuracy of different
imaging modalities in predicting triple negative status. Literature reports TRN
cancers exhibit certain specific morphological features, which could assist
quicker TRN tumour type diagnosis before the histology reports are available.
However, there is a lack of consensus amongst authors regarding which features
that are typical of TRN disease. Moreover the studies have tended to be of
small sample size, which has made the statistical analysis of questionable
value. In this study, we have reviewed the
literature and report our experience with ultrasonic features of TRN tumour
type at our institute.
Aconsecutive series of patients who had triple negative breast cancer were
identified from our institutional database in between 2008-2012. Two dedicated breast
radiologists analyzed their image characteristics. Any correlation between
ultrasonographical features was compared against the findings highlighted by
the published relevant literature.
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