Ultrasound and X-ray performance of breast carcinosarcoma

Objective: In this study, the authors investigated the ultrasonic and X-ray performance of this disease, and evaluated the value of routine imaging methods in the diagnosis of breast carcinosarcoma. Materials and Methods: Nine female patients with breast carcinosarcoma were enrolled. Ultrasound and X-ray are commonly used imaging methods for the diagnosis of breast diseases. Hence, the ultrasonic appearance and X-ray features of these nine cases of breast carcinosarcoma were retrospective analyzed, and the imaging features of carcinosarcoma were summarized based on pathological changes. Results: The pathological histology and immunohistochemical findings of these nine cases of breast carcinosarcoma revealed that five cases were epithelium-derived malignant tumors and four cases were mesenchymal metaplasia. Axillary lymph node metastasis was not found in any of these cases. Before surgery, ultrasound diagnoses included six cases of breast cancer, one case of phyllodes tumor, and two cases of fibroadenoma; while breast X-ray diagnoses included one case of fibroadenoma, two cases of suspected malignant tumors, four cases of breast cancer, and two cases of phyllodes tumor. Furthermore, ultrasound imaging revealed tumors with irregular shapes in six cases, internal liquefaction necrosis in four cases, internal calcification in two cases, and posterior echo enhancement in seven cases; while breast X-ray revealed lobulated changes on the margins in six cases, irregular tumors with horn-shaped protrusions in three cases, and internal calcification in six cases. Conclusion: It is difficult to diagnose breast carcinosarcoma by imaging methods, and puncture biopsy is an important method for preoperative diagnosis.

Breast; Carcinosarcoma; Ultrasonography; Mammography.

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