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A More Aggressive Disease?

Raul G. Zunzunegui, MD; Maureen A. Chung, MD, PhD; Jovita Oruwari, MD; Daniel Golding, MD; Douglas J. Marchant, MD; Blake Cady, MD

Arch Surg. 2003;138:537-540.

Hypothesis  Women with breast cancer who have casting-type microcalcifications associated with multifocal invasion and extensive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) form a subset of patients with a poor prognosis. Our study aims to identify the mammographic and pathologic features of this group.

Design  Women with casting-type microcalcifications, multifocal invasion, and extensive DCIS were identified from our tumor board registry. Mammographic features, tumor characteristics, treatment, and survival rates were evaluated. Invasive tumors were limited to 14 mm or smaller.

Setting  University medical teaching hospital and breast cancer specialty clinic.

Results  Of the 984 patients with breast cancer treated at our center, 15 patients were identified who had extensive casting-type calcifications and DCIS. Twelve of these patients also had multifocal invasive breast cancer. All had casting-type microcalcifications occupying more than 1 breast quadrant. All but 1 of the patients were treated using mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy or axillary node dissection. All but 1 patient had extensive grade 3 DCIS. Invasive tumors were negative for estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression in half of the patients, and 60% were positive for the HER-2-neu receptor. Positive axillary lymph nodes were found in 33% of patients, and 75% received adjuvant chemotherapy. After a median follow-up period of 20.5 months (range, 6-72 months), 1 patient had died and 1 had distant metastases. Of the 3 patients who had DCIS without invasion, 1 experienced a recurrence with infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

Conclusions  In women with small multifocal breast cancers with extensive casting calcifications and DCIS, the incidence of positive lymph nodes was 33%, with a tendency for poor tumor markers. These women appear to be at substantial risk for systemic disease; lymph node sampling and adjuvant systemic therapy are recommended.

From the Departments of Surgery (Drs Chung and Cady) and Radiology (Dr Golding), Breast Health Center/Women and Infants' Hospital (Drs Zunzunegui and Marchant), Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI; and the St Louis Cancer and Breast Institute, St Louis, Mo (Dr Oruwari).

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