Non-palpable breast carcinomas: correlation of mammographically detected malignant-appearing microcalcifications and molecular prognostic factors

Abstract

Screening mammography has greatly increased the number of non-palpable breast carcinomas diagnosed in asymptomatic women. Malignant-appearing microcalcifications represent one of the earliest mammographic findings of non-palpable breast carcinomas. Many studies have attempted to correlate radiological and histological features of malignant-appearing microcalcifications. In the present study, we evaluated the association between mammographically detected malignant-appearing microcalcifications and the expression profile of selected biological markers in non-palpable breast carcinomas. Two hundred and eighty patients with non-palpable suspicious breast lesions that were detected during screening mammography were studied. All patients underwent mammographically-guided needle localization-excision breast biopsy. Histological examination showed 74 (26.4%) carcinomas of various subtypes. Immunohistochemistry was carried out in 58/74 carcinomas by using a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER-2/neu, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and DNA fragmentation factor (DFF). Malignant-appearing microcalcifications was the major mammographic finding in 45/58 (77%) patients. Nuclear ER positivity (65.5%) and PR positivity (46.5%) of non-palpable breast carcinomas were statistically correlated with malignant-appearing microcalcifications (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Statistically significant associations were also found between malignant-appearing microcalcifications and HER-2/neu positivity (p < 0.01), Bax positivity (p < 0.01), Fas positivity (p < 0.05) and DFF positivity (p < 0.01), whereas no statistical correlation was found with Bcl-2 positivity (p > 0.05). Malignant-appearing microcalcifications detected during screening mammography represent a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic challenge. The mammographic/biological associations and their potential implications in the management of women with non-palpable breast carcinomas are thoroughly discussed.