Spiculated margin on ultrasound is associated with tumor grade and immunohistochemical profile in breast cancer

The ultrasound findings of a breast mass and its associated histological grade and immunohistochemical profile in breast cancer have not been studied in the Mexican population. This study aimed to define the association between ultrasound features, histological grade, and immunohistochemical profile in breast cancer. This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 182 women with a histologic diagnosis of primary breast cancer evaluated with ultrasound using BI-RADS. Histological grade was classified as well-differentiated (grade 1), moderately differentiated (grade 2), and poorly-differentiated (grade 3). The immunohistochemical profile of the breast tumors was classified as luminal (ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2/neu negative), Her2-enriched (HER2/neu positive, ER-negative, and PR-negative), and triple-negative (ER, PR, and HER2/neu negative). There were 168 ductal tumors (162 invasive and 6 in situ); only 14 patients had lobular cancer. The spiculated margin was significantly associated with tumor grade 2 in 39 (56.5%) of 69 masses (p < 0.05). A luminal immunohistochemical profile (n = 32, 46.4%) was significantly associated with a spiculated margin (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates a significant association between a spiculated margin detected by ultrasound and grade 2 tumor and a luminal immunohistochemical profile in breast cancer.