Aims and background: This study aimed to describe the mammographic and sonographic features of tubular carcinoma of the breast.
Methods: A retrospective review of 198 consecutive cases of surgically proven breast cancer revealed ten cases of tubular carcinoma of the breast. Only tumors with a tubular component of at least 75% were included in the study. Mean patient age was 56 +/- 9 years, range 35 to 70 years.
Results: The mean size of the tumors was 11 +/- 4 mm. On mammography, all tubular carcinomas appeared as an irregularly shaped mass with a central density in 6/10 cases. Eight tubular carcinomas were described as having spiculated margins. Microcalcifications were present in 4/10 cases. On ultrasound the tumor presented as a hypoechoic mass with irregular margins and posterior acoustic shadowing in 7/10 cases. In three cases the tumor presented as a hypoechoic mass with ill-defined margins and posterior acoustic shadowing.
Conclusions: Although some specific mammographic and sonographic features may suggest the presence of a tubular carcinoma, the final differential diagnosis from other spiculated lesions of the breast should rely on histologic evidence only. Therefore, surgical biopsy should be recommended in all cases of stellate lesions of the breast detected at mammography or ultrasonogram.