HIV and breast cancer - a mammographic analysis: An observational study to identify the mammographic pattern of breast cancer in HIV-positive patients.

Background: Data on the association between HIV and breast cancer mammographic patterns and histological subtypes are limited.

Objectives: To determine whether specific mammographic findings, histological features and patient profiles were unique to a cohort of HIV-positive patients who developed breast cancer, by comparing them with a HIV-negative cohort.

Methods: This was a descriptive study in which we conducted a retrospective chart review and mammographic and pathology analysis of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients referred to the Addington Hospital breast clinic between August 2008 and June 2012 and entered into a prospective database.

Results: Thirty-eight HIV-positive and 38 HIV-negative patients were included in the study. HIV-positive patients were more likely to have multifocal breast cancer (p=0.007), but not multicentric disease (p=0.05). The presence of grouped and fine pleomorphic microcalcifications and positive HIV status demonstrated statistical significance (p=0.000). A statistically significant relationship between grouped and fine pleomorphic microcalcifications with biopsies confirming high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (HGDCIS) and HIV status was demonstrated (p=0.001). The mean age of the HIV-positive patients was 42.5 years (p=0.000).

Conclusions: We demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between HIV status, the presence of multifocal breast cancer, and mammographically detected grouped and fine pleomorphic microcalcifications. A statistically significant relationship between HGDCIS and HIV status, and the presence of grouped and fine pleomorphic microcalcifications in HIV-positive patients with biopsies confirming HGDCIS, was demonstrated. Our study also showed that there is a relationship between age of presentation and HIV status.