IMAGING OF PREGNANCY-ASSOCIATED BREAST-CANCER

PURPOSE: To assess the use of mammography in diagnosis of pregnancy-as sociated breast cancer (PABC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records between 1973 and 1993 was performed in 85 wo men with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or within 1 year aft er pregnancy. In 21 of these women, mammography was performed before b iopsy; the mammographic findings in this study group, which had 23 cas es of invasive carcinoma, were reviewed for signs of malignancy. Breas t sonography was performed in six cases in five women; sonographic fin dings were also reviewed. RESULTS: Mammographic findings were present in 18 of 23 cases (78%), including mass (n = 13) (nine cases with calc ification), suspicious calcifications (n = 4), and diffusely increased parenchymal density (n = 1). Breast sonography revealed focal solid m ass in six of six cases. Axillary lymph node metastases occurred in 15 of 23 cases (65%). Although symptoms occurred before or during pregna ncy in 12 cases (52%), PABC was diagnosed after pregnancy in 19 cases (83%). CONCLUSION: PABC is often advanced at diagnosis and associated with poor prognosis. Breast imaging studies usually demonstrate focal findings due to clinically evident PABC.