Mammographic features of 455 invasive lobular carcinomas

Radiology. 1992 Dec;185(3):705-8. doi: 10.1148/radiology.185.3.1438749.

Abstract

Of 6,009 cases of breast cancer studied, 455 (7.6%) were invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC); 341 of these (75%) were pure ILC and 114 (25%) were ILC mixed with ductal forms. The mammographic features were compared with those of the 5,554 other breast carcinomas. Pure ILCs were less frequently round (1% vs 11%) and more frequently spicular (28% vs 23%) or with architectural distortion (18% vs 6%) than the other breast carcinomas. Microcalcifications were less common (24% vs 41%) and retraction of the skin (25% vs 21%) and nipple (26% vs 17%) was more common in pure ILC than in the other breast carcinomas. When complementary magnification views were obtained, only 50% were helpful in diagnosis of ILC while 75% were helpful in diagnosis of other breast carcinomas. Malignancy was less frequently diagnosed in ILC (57%) than in the other breast carcinomas (64%). The results were intermediate in the mixed ILC group.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Cytodiagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammography*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness