<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease both in its clinical and radiological manifestations and response to treatment. This is largely due to the polymorphism of the histological types as well as diversified molecular profiles of individual breast cancer types. Progress in the understanding of the biology of breast cancer was made with the introduction of immunohistochemical research into the common practice. On this basis, four main breast cancer subtypes were distinguished: luminal A, luminal B, HER2 positive (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positive), and triple negative cancer. The classification of a tumour to an appropriate subtype allows for the optimisation of treatment (surgery or pre-operative chemotherapy). In this study, the authors present different patterns of breast cancer subtypes in ultrasound examination and differences in their treatment, with particular emphasis on aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as triple negative or HER2 positive. They can, unlike the luminal subtypes, create diagnostic problems. Based on multifactorial analysis of the ultrasound image, with the assessment of lesion margins, orientation, shape, echogenicity, vascularity, the presence of calcifications or assessment by sonoelastography, it is possible to initially differentiate individual subtypes.</p></abstract>

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease both in its clinical and radiological manifestations and response to treatment. This is largely due to the polymorphism of the histological types as well as diversified molecular profiles of individual breast cancer types. Progress in the understanding of the biology of breast cancer was made with the introduction of immunohistochemical research into the common practice. On this basis, four main breast cancer subtypes were distinguished: luminal A, luminal B, HER2 positive (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positive), and triple negative cancer. The classification of a tumour to an appropriate subtype allows for the optimisation of treatment (surgery or pre-operative chemotherapy). In this study, the authors present different patterns of breast cancer subtypes in ultrasound examination and differences in their treatment, with particular emphasis on aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as triple negative or HER2 positive. They can, unlike the luminal subtypes, create diagnostic problems. Based on multifactorial analysis of the ultrasound image, with the assessment of lesion margins, orientation, shape, echogenicity, vascularity, the presence of calcifications or assessment by sonoelastography, it is possible to initially differentiate individual subtypes.

Immunohistochemical subtypes of the breast cancer in the ultrasound and clinical aspect – literature review

Journal of Ultrasonography

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease both in its clinical and radiological manifestations and response to treatment. This is largely due to the...

Immunohistochemical subtypes of the breast cancer in the ultrasound and clinical aspect – literature review

Article Category: Review paper

Published Online: Apr 27, 2022

Page range: 93 - 99

Received: Jan 08, 2022

Accepted: Feb 07, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/JoU.2022.0016

Keywords
ultrasound, breast cancer, immunohistochemical subtypes, BIRADS lexicon

© 2022 Katarzyna Dobruch-Sobczak, Magdalena Gumowska, Joanna Mączewska, Agnieszka Kolasińska-Ćwikła, Paweł Guzik, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Immunohistochemical subtypes of the breast cancer in the ultrasound and clinical aspect – literature review

Article Category: Review paper

Published Online: Apr 27, 2022

Page range: 93 - 99

Received: Jan 08, 2022

Accepted: Feb 07, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/JoU.2022.0016

Keywordsultrasound, breast cancer, immunohistochemical subtypes, BIRADS lexicon

© 2022 Katarzyna Dobruch-Sobczak, Magdalena Gumowska, Joanna Mączewska, Agnieszka Kolasińska-Ćwikła, Paweł Guzik, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
ultrasound, breast cancer, immunohistochemical subtypes, BIRADS lexicon