This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mesurolle, B. Articles by Foulkes, W. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mesurolle, B. Articles by Foulkes, W. D.

Sonographic Features of Breast Carcinoma Presenting as Masses in BRCA Gene Mutation Carriers

Cedar Breast Clinic, Department of Radiology (B.M., L.K. M.E.), and Department of Epidemiology (N.D.), McGill University Health Center, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Radiology, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (A.L.); and Program in Cancer Genetics, Departments of Oncology and Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (W.D.F.).

Address correspondence to Benoît Mesurolle, MD, Department of Radiology, McGill University Health Center, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Ave, Montreal QC H3G 1A4, Canada. E-mail: benoit.mesurolle{at}muhc.mcgill.ca

Objective. The purpose of this study was to review the sonographic features of breast cancer gene BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast carcinomas in comparison with "sporadic" breast carcinomas and benign breast masses. Methods. Sonograms of 233 breast masses, including 33 BRCA-associated malignant masses (BRCA1, 15; BRCA2, 18), 148 sporadic malignant masses, and 52 benign masses, were reviewed by consensus by 2 radiologists according to American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) terminology. Results. Most of the sporadic and BRCA1-and BRCA2-associated cancers displayed an irregular shape (91.2%, 93.3%, and 83.3%, respectively). BRCA1-associated cancers showed microlobulated margins in 53.3% versus 33.8% (sporadic) and 33.3% (BRCA2). A parallel orientation was most frequently encountered in BRCA1-associated lesions (46.7%) versus sporadic (33.8%) and BRCA2 (33.3%), whereas posterior acoustic shadowing was least frequently seen in BRCA1-associated lesions (13.3%) versus BRCA2 (16.7%) and sporadic (31.1%). Most (73.3%) of the BRCA1-associated lesions were classified as BI-RADS category 4, whereas most of the sporadic and BRCA2-associated lesions were classified as BI-RADS category 5 (66.2% and 72.2%). Conclusions. Sonographic features of BRCA-associated and sporadic breast carcinomas do not differ substantially. BRCA1-associated breast carcinomas trend toward less malignant sonographic characteristics, but strict application of the BI-RADS categorizations demands that they be classified as category 4 or 5.

Key Words: BRCA gene mutation carriers • breast cancer • Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System categorization • breast sonography

Abbreviations: ACR, American College of Radiology • BI-RADS, Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System