Abstract

"Introduction. Triple-negative cancers (TNC) refers to any breast cancer that does not express the genes for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) or human epidermal grow factor, receptor type 2. Herceptin (HER2). They tend to be more aggressive; often being diagnosed in young patients, sometimes as interval cancers, they can grow to be large in size and patients frequently present initially with axillary metastases. They show a worse prognosis compared to other breast cancer tumors, with an increased risk of distant recurrence and death, especially in the first 5 years after diagnosis. Patients and methods. We conducted a descriptive, retrospective observational study of TNC cases diagnosed at our institution between March 2005 and June 2012 in order to identify their imaging features. Results. TNC may not be seen on mammography (Mx) if the parenchyma is dense (ACR types 3 and 4), mainly because they appear as masses or focal asymmetries without microcalcifications. Both on mammography and ultrasound (US) they can evoke a benign lesion. On US studies they frequently manifest as a solid single nodule, markedly hypoechoic with posterior acoustic enhancement and well-defined contours. They appear hypo/ avascular on color Doppler examinations (or vascularized in the periphery without central vessels) and various afferent pedicles may be present. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clearly identifies suspicious lesions with some characteristic features: mass preferably with posterior and prepectoral location, markedly hyperintense on T2- weighted images with a ring-like pattern of contrast agent uptake, presenting washout curve, sometimes with septa increased uptake in the lesion center. Conclusion. Triple receptor-negative cancers often exhibit imaging features that distinguish them from other types of tumors."