Clinicopathological and ultrasonographic features of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast

Objective To summarize the clinicopathological and ultrasonographic features of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast. Methods From January 1998 to January 2016, 12 patients with 12 lesions of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast confirmed by pathological examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University were selected. The t-test were used to compare the differences in ultrasound scores in patients with and without lymph node metastasis, ER expression, and PR expression. Variance analysis was used to compare the differences in ultrasound scores between patients with different differentiation types and those with Dukes stages. Results All patients were found to have a breast mass, and 5 patients had satellite nodules around the mass. The mass may be located in each quadrant of the breast. Ultrasound examination showed that among the 12 lesions, 9 were hypoechoic and 3 had mixed echoes; 12 lesions had unclear border and irregular shape, 7 were cystic, and 4 had calcification. Color Doppler flow imaging showed that 5, 2, 2, and 3 lesions had grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 blood flow signals, respectively. The score of color Doppler flow imaging in 12 lesions was (3.5±0.1) points, and there were significant differences in ultrasound scores between patients with and without lymph node metastasis, patients with different differentiation types, and those with different Dukes stages (t=10.933, F=3.099, F=4.133, all P 0.05). Conclusion The clinicopathological characteristics of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast are specific. Ultrasound diagnosis shows that the tumor has more cystic components and rich blood flow, which can contribute to the clinical diagnosis of this malignancy. Key words: Primary neoplasms; Carcinoma, squamous cell; Pathology; Ultrasonography