Sustained Interruption of Anterior Interfaces Between Adipose Tissues and Mammary Glands in Ultrasonography After Complete Pathological Remission After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Primary Breast Cancer

Abstract

BackgroundInterruptions of the anterior interfaces between adipose tissues and mammary glands ultrasonographically are considered highly indicative of invasive ductal carcinoma. However, ultrasonography (US) revealed sustained interruptions in some cases of complete pathological remission (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), although invasive carcinomas remained absent. Thus, in the present study, we examined the influences of interruptions on pathology observations after pCR after NAC for primary breast cancer. Patients and MethodsA total of 337 patients received NAC at St Luke's International Hospital from April 2004 to September 2006, and 46 had pCRs despite residual in situ lesions (pCR ratio, 13.6%). Subsequently, the medical records of these 46 patients were retrospectively reviewed and US findings were compared with pathological findings. ResultsOn US, interruptions remained in 18 of 46 pCR patients. Complete fibril formations were detected in 15 cases and associated in situ lesions were detected in 4 cases. ConclusionUS findings of interruptions of the anterior interface between adipose tissues and mammary glands were pathologically correlated with fibril formations and might not always indicate the presence of residual invasive cancer after NAC.