Radiology, Vol 195, 231-234, Copyright © 1995 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Invasive lobular carcinoma: sonographic appearance and role of sonography in improving diagnostic sensitivity

CP Paramagul, MA Helvie and DD Adler
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0326.

PURPOSE: To characterize the ultrasonographic (US) appearance of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and to assess the potential role of US in the earlier detection of ILC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: US scans in 19 patients with ILC were retrospectively studied for the presence of a mass, characteristics of the margins, internal echogenicity, and attenuation effects. RESULTS: US showed masses in 13 of the 19 patients (68% sensitivity). Irregularly marginated masses with heterogeneous internal echoes and acoustic attenuation were present in seven patients. A variety of US findings, mimicking a benign lesion, were noted in the other six patients. US sensitivity in the detection of small cancers (< 1 cm) was 25% (one of four patients). Mammographic sensitivity in the detection of ILC in this series was 89% (17 of 19 patients). CONCLUSION: ILC has a variety of US appearances. US was insensitive and nonspecific in the diagnosis of ILC, especially for small cancers. A negative US result should not deter surgical biopsy if indicated by mammographic findings or clinical findings.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Biglia, L. Mariani, L. Sgro, P. Mininanni, G. Moggio, and P. Sismondi Increased incidence of lobular breast cancer in women treated with hormone replacement therapy: implications for diagnosis, surgical and medical treatment Endocr. Relat. Cancer, September 1, 2007; 14(3): 549 - 567. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.L. Quan, L. Sclafani, A.S. Heerdt, J.V. Fey, E.A. Morris, and P.I. Borgen Magnetic Resonance Imaging Detects Unsuspected Disease in Patients With Invasive Lobular Cancer Ann. Surg. Oncol., November 1, 2003; 10(9): 1048 - 1053. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Qayyum, R. L. Birdwell, B. L. Daniel, K. W. Nowels, S. S. Jeffrey, T. A. Agoston, and R. J. Herfkens MR Imaging Features of Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: Histopathologic Correlation Am. J. Roentgenol., May 1, 2002; 178(5): 1227 - 1232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Soo, E. L. Rosen, J. A. Baker, T. T. Vo, and B. A. Boyd Negative Predictive Value of Sonography with Mammography in Patients with Palpable Breast Lesions Am. J. Roentgenol., November 1, 2001; 177(5): 1167 - 1170. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. K. Gill and W. A. Berg Case 39: Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Radiology, October 1, 2001; 221(1): 132 - 136. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. P. Weinstein, S. G. Orel, R. Heller, C. Reynolds, B. Czerniecki, L. J. Solin, and M. Schnall MR Imaging of the Breast in Patients with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2001; 176(2): 399 - 406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Avril, M. Menzel, J. Dose, M. Schelling, W. Weber, F. Janicke, W. Nathrath, and M. Schwaiger Glucose Metabolism of Breast Cancer Assessed by 18F-FDG PET: Histologic and Immunohistochemical Tissue Analysis J. Nucl. Med., January 1, 2001; 42(1): 9 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Avril, C. A. Rose, M. Schelling, J. Dose, W. Kuhn, S. Bense, W. Weber, S. Ziegler, H. Graeff, and M. Schwaiger Breast Imaging With Positron Emission Tomography and Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose: Use and Limitations J. Clin. Oncol., October 20, 2000; 18(20): 3495 - 3502. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Cyrlak and P. M. Carpenter Cases of the Day : Breast Imaging Case of the Day RadioGraphics, October 1, 1999; 19(90001): 73 - 79. [Full Text]