Characteristic Features of Breast Cancer in Women Aged ≤30 Years

Abstract

Objective:To identify and describe the imaging, clinicopathological and biological characteristics of breast cancer for women aged ≤30 years and to correlate the imaging features with clinical and molecular prognostic factors of breast cancer. Methods: A total of 47 women aged ≤30 years with diagnosed breast cancer were included in this study. The patients' clinic visit, radiology, and pathology reports were retrospectively reviewed. We analysed the associations between features and outcomes using Fisher's exact test. Results: The most common ultrasonographic feature was a mass with suspicious features for malignancy, which was assessed as Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4 (82. 2%, 37 / 45) or 5 (17.8%, 8 / 45) in all cases. Of the invasive tumours, 69.0% (29 / 42) had a high histological grade, 61.4% (27 / 44) were oestrogen receptor-positive, 56.8% (25 / 44) were progesterone receptor-positive, and 25.6% (11 / 43) were human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2-positive. There was a significant correlation between mammographic mass margin and BRCA mutation (p = 0.0217); ultrasonographic mass features including margin, echo pattern, posterior feature and hormone receptor status (p = 0.0117-0.0467); and BI-RADS assessment and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0076). BRCA mutation positive correlated significantly with a high histological grade (p = 0.0243) of tumour. Conclusion: Breast cancer in women aged ≤30 years more frequently presents as a palpable mass with malignant imaging features and a high histological grade. The imaging and clinical features are significantly associated with prognostic factors of breast cancer in this patient population.

Comparison of ultrasound and histopatological findings breast cancer between women aged below and above 40 years.

“…A higher percentage of irregular margin is also observed in another study [22]. This finding is also supported by the study at Dong-A University Hospital and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA [22]. Age has no impact margin, a finding similar to a study conducted in Japan [21].…”

“…Our study has shown that the majority of tumours presented by the patients who have records are irregular margin and hypoechoic regardless of age. A higher percentage of irregular margin is also observed in another study [22]. This finding is also supported by the study at Dong-A University Hospital and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA [22].…”

“…The length of less than 5 cm is also observed as the most common length of breast cancer in a study conducted at Dong-A University Hospital and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA [22]. However, the study was only conducted for 30 years old and younger women.…”