Molecular Subtyping of Breast Cancer: Do We Define Them with B-mode US or ARFI Elastography?

Imaging properties of breast cancer molecular subtypes differ and can be recognized by radiological methods. Acoustic radiation force (ARFI) can be associated with molecular subtypes and grade of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the ultrasound and ARFI elastography correlates of different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Seventy-two patients were included in the study. The lesions evaluated by B -mod ultrasound (US) and ARFI elastography methods, and US guided tru-cut biopsies were performed. Molecular subtypes were categorized as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), luminal A and B, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched cancer at based on the immunohistochemical profiles. Clinicopathological features, B -mod US and elastographic features was analized with statistic ally. Luminal cancers displayed more frequently an irregular shape, posterior shadowing, echogenic rim, and a hypoechoic or complex echo pattern than TNBC (p