Ultrasound Characteristics in Predicting Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis

Objectives: Breast cancer, which is highly prevalent worldwide, presents with a range of molecular subtypes: luminal A (LA), luminal B (LB), triple-negative (TN), and HER2 positive (HER2+), each with unique prognostic and treatment implications. The utility of breast ultrasound in predicting these subtypes remains underexplored. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 140 women with primary invasive breast cancer treated at the Cancer Institute from April 2022 to March 2023. Standard ultrasound imaging and comprehensive clinical-pathological data, including molecular subtypes identified via immunohistochemistry, were used. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (version 22), focusing on correlations between ultrasound features and molecular subtypes. Results: The average age of participants was 49.75 years, with tumor sizes averaging 27.1 mm. LA was the most common subtype (48%), followed by LB (25%), TN (18%), and HER2+ (7%). Significant correlations were found between ultrasound features and molecular subtypes, particularly the presence of calcification and tumor shape. The TN type showed the highest calcification rate (30.7%), followed by the LA subtype at 29.4%. The irregular shapes across all subtypes were a common morphological characteristic, while the variation in the frequency of round and oval shapes highlights potential subtype-specific differences. Conclusions: Ultrasound features correlate with specific molecular subtypes of breast cancer, suggesting potential diagnostic value in subtype differentiation. However, limitations such as the single-center scope and small sample size may affect the generalizability of the findings. Further research is needed to validate these preliminary results and potentially expand the diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound in breast cancer subtyping.