ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there are differences in multimodality imaging characteristics of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) based on menopausal status. METHODS: This IRB-approved retrospective study reviewed clinicopathologic features and radiological imaging findings of 81 patients with TNBC, of whom 38.2% (31/81) were pre- and perimenopausal and 61.7% (50/81) postmenopausal. Data analysis was performed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and a P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Subgroup analysis excluding non-basal TNBCs was also conducted. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent (18/31) of TNBCs in the premenopausal group were round or oval in shape, whereas irregularly shaped tumors accounted for 82.0% (41/50) in postmenopausal group (P < 0.001). Associated calcifications were more common in the postmenopausal group (59.5% (25/42) versus 16.6% (3/18)) (P = 0.07). The subgroup analyses that included only basal-type TNBCs were also consistent with these results. Sixty percent (15/25) of basal-like TNBCs in the premenopausal group had a round or oval shape, whereas 82.3% (28/34) of tumors in the postmenopausal group had an irregular shape (P = 0.001). Moreover, 36.0% (9/25) of basal-like TNBCs in the premenopausal group had microlobulated margins, while 73.5% (25/34) of the postmenopausal group had spiculated margins (P = 0.001). On MRI, most common finding was a T2 hyperintense mass with rim enhancement. CONCLUSION: Menopausal status should be taken into consideration when considering breast cancer phenotype. Although imaging findings alone are not sufficient for determining the phenotype, such information can aid better understanding of the biological behavior of TNBCs.
