for those whose tumor was not palpable--association with her2 positivity?

[Lani]

Non-palpable breast carcinomas: Correlation of mammographically detected malignant-appearing microcalcifications and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family expression


Filitsa A. Badraa, Michalis V. Karamouzisb, c, , Panagiota Ravazoulad, Eleni Likaki-Karatzaa, Evagelos Tzorakoleftherakise, Dimitrios Koukourase, Gregorios Iconomouf, Nikolaos Xirosf, Dimitrios Siablisa, Athanasios G. Papavassiliouc and Haralabos P. Kalofonosf, ,

aDepartment of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
b1st Department of Medical Oncology, St Savvas Anticancer-Oncologic Hospital, Athens, Greece
cDepartment of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
dDepartment of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
eDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
fDivision of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras 26110, Greece

Received 22 July 2005; revised 24 October 2005; accepted 27 November 2005. Available online 6 March 2006.



Abstract

Malignant-appearing microcalcifications (MAMCs) represent one of the earliest mammographic findings of non-palpable breast carcinomas (NPBCs). In the present study, we have evaluated the expression of all EGFR family members in NPBCs and its possible association with MAMCs. Three hundred and fifty patients with non-palpable suspicious breast lesions detected during screening mammography were studied. EGFR family proteins' expression was found to be present since the preclinical phase of breast carcinomas and was strongly correlated (except HER-3) with MAMCs. The co-expression pattern of EGFR family members combined with other molecular prognostic factors and the mammographic appearance might predict the natural history of NPBCs.

THIS DEFINITELY POINTS OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAMMOGRAMS!!!!