Extratumoral Signs of Malignant Nonspiculate and Noncalcified Masses on Mammography: Are They Associated With Prognostic Factors in Breast Cancer?

Aim: To investigate the association between mammographic extratumoral signs, specifically their subclassifications, of nonspiculate and noncalcified masses (NSNCMs) and prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed imaging and pathological data from 374 patients, categorizing extratumoral signs into structural abnormalities (parenchymal and trabecular) and halo, while also undergoing subclassification. The focus prognostic factors were achieved through screening. Then, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Correlation analysis was also employed to determine the relationship between subclassifications and prognostic factors.

Results: Lymphovascular invasion (LVI), Ki-67 levels, and stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTIL) levels were identified as the focus prognostic factors. Among tumor signs, only tumor margin was associated with sTIL levels. Extratumoral trabecular signs exhibited a significant correlation with LVI (OR = 2.5, p = 0.007) and Ki-67 levels (OR = 1.23, p = 0.001). Specifically, the parallel sign showed a positive correlation with LVI (p = 0.009, r = 0.134), while the reticular sign displayed a positive correlation with Ki-67 levels (p = 0.009, r = 0.134). Extratumoral parenchymal signs were found to be an independent predictor for sTIL levels (OR = 0.64, p < 0.001), with a negative correlation observed between the contraction sign and sTIL levels (p < 0.001, r = −0.185), as well as between the atrophy sign and sTIL levels (p = 0.046, r = −0.103).

Conclusion: Specific extratumoral structural abnormalities of mammographic malignant NSNCMs showed a significant correlation with prognostic factors in breast cancer, warranting increased attention in research and clinical practice.