Evaluation and comparison of radiologic-pathologic findings in invasive cribriform carcinoma of the breast

Abstract

Background/aim: This study aimed to report invasive cribriform carcinoma (ICC) with radiological and histopathologic correlations. Materials and methods: Seventy patients with ICC were classified into two groups; pure ICC patients and patients with >50% cribriform carcinoma component were included in group 1, while patients with <50% cribriform carcinoma component were included in group 2. All patients were reviewed according to American College of Radiology (ACR) breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) lexicon of mammography (MG), ultrasonography (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). One-way analysis of variance tests and t-tests were used for analysis. P < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results: Eighteen patients were in group 1 and 52 were in group 2. All patients had MG and US, while 24 patients needed MRI. According to MG ACR BI-RADS lexicon evaluation, irregular shape, spiculated margin and indistinct margin, and high density were statistically significantly higher in group 2 than the other group (respectively P = 0.001, P = 0.001, and P= 0.04). Equal density was statistically significantly higher in group 1 than the other group (P = 0.008). According to US ACR BI-RADS lexicon evaluation, irregular shape, spiculated margins, angular margins, microlobulated margins, and nonparallel orientation were more common US findings in group 2 than the other group (respectively P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.003, P = 0.04, and P = 0.04). The rate of parallel orientation was higher in group 1 than the other group (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Few cases showed benign characteristics and most ICCs appear with typical features of malignancy. Radiologic features of ICC could be better understood and would be helpful for radiologists in diagnosing this rare type of malignancy.