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| The Benefit of Sonography in Pregnancy-associated Breast Cancer |
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| Eun Ju Son, M.D., Ki Keun Oh, M.D., Eun Kyung Kim, M.D |
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| Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine |
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| PURPOSE : To evaluate the sonographic, mammographic and MRI features of pregnancy-associated
breast cancer with the major focus on the sonographic benefit in a diagnosis of pregnancyassociated
breast cancer.
MATERIALS and METHODS : From 1998 to 2002, sonography was performed on a total 7 patients
(age 23 to 38 years), who were pathologically diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy.
Six of those patients underwent mammography. Five patients underwent a breast MRI, preoperatively.
The radiological findings were evaluated retrospectively. Six patients underwent
surgery and 1 patient underwent a core biopsy and chemotherapy. The histological, nuclear
grading and pathological staging were evaluated.
RESULTS : The sonographic findings showed a mass with irregular shapes (n=6), irregular margins
(n=6), a non-parallel orientation (n=5), complex echo patterns (n=5). Associated findings
could be observed in 3 patients, including Cooper’s ligament thickening (n=2), edema (n=2),
skin thickening (n=1) and axillary lymphadenopathy (n=3). The sonographic findings were
positive and showed masses in 6 patients. All the patients had a dense breast in mammography.
The mammographic findings included masses (n=4), masses with microcalcifications (n=2),
masses with axillary lymphadenopathy (n=3), calcifications alone (n=1), an asymmetric density
alone (n=1), extremely dense breasts with negative findings (n=2). A breast MRI showed an
irregular shaped mass (n=4) with a rim-like enhancement (n=3), linear ductal enhancement
without a mass (n= 1), and the time intensity cure revealed the typical pattern and level of enhancement
in the carcinoma.
CONCLUSION : Sonography is a valuable tool for diagnosing pregnancy-associated breast cancer.
However, mammography should be performed if there is a suspicious lesion on sonography in
order to confirm the pregnancy-associated breast cancer. Mammography has a lower sensitivity
during pregnancy due to the physiologic changes in the breasts. However, calcifications and
associated findings are helpful in confirming pregnancy-associated breast cancer. physicians should not consider a rapidly growing lump in the breast during pregnancy to be benign and
should perform radiological examinations and imaging-guided biopsies.
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| Keyword : Breast neoplasms, US Breast radiography Pregnancy |
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pdf파일 : 123-130손은주.pdf 
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> Journal > Journal Search 
Journal of Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine 2005 ; 24 (3) : p.123-130
