Characteristic Features of Breast Cancer in Women Aged ≤30 Years

Objective: To identify and describe the imaging, clinicopathological and biological characteristics of breast cancer for women aged <= 30 years and to correlate the imaging features with clinical and molecular prognostic factors of breast cancer. Methods: A total of 47 women aged <= 30 years with diagnosed breast cancer were included in this study. The patients' clinic visit, radiology, and pathology reports were retrospectively reviewed. We analysed the associations between features and outcomes using Fisher's exact test. Results: The most common ultrasonographic feature was a mass with suspicious features for malignancy, which was assessed as Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4 (82.2%, 37 / 45) or 5 (17.8%, 8 / 45) in all cases. Of the invasive tumours, 69.0% (29 / 42) had a high histological grade, 61.4% (27 / 44) were oestrogen receptor-positive, 56.8% (25 / 44) were progesterone receptor-positive, and 25.6% (11 / 43) were human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2-positive. There was a significant correlation between mammographic mass margin and BRCA mutation (p = 0.0217); ultrasonographic mass features including margin, echo pattern, posterior feature and hormone receptor status (p = 0.0117-0.0467); and BI-RADS assessment and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0076). BRCA mutation positive correlated significantly with a high histological grade (p = 0.0243) of tumour. Conclusion: Breast cancer in women aged <= 30 years more frequently presents as a palpable mass with malignant imaging features and a high histological grade. The imaging and clinical features are significantly associated with prognostic factors of breast cancer in this patient population.