Differences in Ultrasound Characteristics Among Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis Publisher



Abbasi M ; Tahamtan M ; Sadighi N ; Mohammadzadeh S ; Hakim P K ; Katouli F S ; Aghasi M ; Zeinalkhani F
Source: Iranian Journal of Radiology Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer molecular subtyping is crucial for prognosis and treatment planning, prompting interest in noninvasive ultrasound-based approaches for identifying relevant correlations. Objectives: Breast cancer, which is highly prevalent worldwide, comprises several molecular subtypes, including luminal A (LA), luminal B (LB), triple-negative (TN), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+). These subtypes have distinct prognostic and therapeutic implications. However, differences in ultrasound features among these subtypes and their potential associations with molecular classification remain underexplored. Patients and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from 140 women with primary invasive breast cancer treated at a referral hospital between April 2022 and March 2023. Standard ultrasound imaging and comprehensive clinicopathological data, including molecular subtypes identified by immunohistochemistry, were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22 to assess correlations between ultrasound features and molecular subtypes. Results: The mean age of the participants was 49.75 years, and the mean tumor size was 27.1 mm. LA was the most common subtype (48%), followed by LB (25%), TN (18%), and HER2+ (7%). Adjusted associations between ultrasound features and molecular subtypes showed a nonsignificant trend, particularly for calcification, tumor shape, and tumor location. The TN subtype had the highest calcification rate, followed by the LA subtype (adjusted P = 0.107). Irregular shapes were common across all subtypes, whereas variation in the frequencies of round and oval shapes suggested potential subtype-specific differences. Conclusion: Certain ultrasound features showed nonsignificant trends across molecular subtypes; however, these findings do not currently support reliable differentiation among subtypes. Further research is needed to validate these preliminary results and potentially expand the diagnostic role of ultrasound in breast cancer subtyping. Copyright © 2026, Abbasi et al.