Influence of size on sonographic characteristics of pure mucinous carcinoma of the breast and diagnostic accuracy

Objective To investigate the influence of breast pure mucinous carcinoma size on sonographic characteristics and diagnostic accuracy. Methods Sonographic characteristics of 101 breast pure mucinous carcinoma in 100 patients were analyzed retrospectively. All lesions were divided into three groups according to maximum diameter at ultrasound. These were group Ⅰ with lesions less than 20 mm, group Ⅱ with lesions greater than or equal 20 mm, less than 40 mm, and group Ⅲ with lesions greater than or equal 40 mm. The relationship between lesions size and ultrasound parameters were analyzed. Results There were 38 lesions in group Ⅰ, 52 lesions in group Ⅱ and 11 lesions in group Ⅲ. The patients age in group Ⅲ were older than that in group Ⅰ(F=3.442, P=0.036). Among these sonographic appearances, only shape (χ2=9.813, P=0.005) and blood flow (χ2=27.952, P=0.000) indicated significant differences. The accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis of breast cancer was 85.1%, the smaller the lesions were, the higher misdiagnosis rate the lesions were. Conclusions With lesions size increased, the lobular and internal blood flow of pure mucinous carcinoma increased. More smaller the lesions were, more higher misdiagnosis rate of lesions were. Key words: Ultrasonography; Breast neoplasms; Adenocarcinoma, mucinous