Imaging of pregnancy-associated breast cancer. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • PURPOSE: To assess the use of mammography in diagnosis of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records between 1973 and 1993 was performed in 85 women with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or within 1 year after pregnancy. In 21 of these women, mammography was performed before biopsy; the mammographic findings in this study group, which had 23 cases of invasive carcinoma, were reviewed for signs of malignancy. Breast sonography was performed in six cases in five women; sonographic findings were also reviewed. RESULTS: Mammographic findings were present in 18 of 23 cases (78%), including mass (n = 13) (nine cases with calcification), suspicious calcifications (n = 4), and diffusely increased parenchymal density (n = 1). Breast sonography revealed focal solid mass in six of six cases. Axillary lymph node metastases occurred in 15 of 23 cases (65%). Although symptoms occurred before or during pregnancy in 12 cases (52%), PABC was diagnosed after pregnancy in 19 cases (83%). CONCLUSION: PABC is often advanced at diagnosis and associated with poor prognosis. Breast imaging studies usually demonstrate focal findings due to clinically evident PABC.

publication date

  • April 1, 1994

Research

keywords

  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0028296585

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1148/radiology.191.1.8134581

PubMed ID

  • 8134581

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 191

issue

  • 1