Tubular Cancers

(1)

Chennai Breast Centre, Chennai, India

Tubular cancers account for 1 % of all invasive breast cancers. The median age of incidence is between 40 and 50 years. They are often screen-detected and therefore nonpalpable. A quarter of tubular cancers can be multicentric lesions.

Mammographic Features

Tubular cancers are small (<1 cm), spiculated, ill-defined masses, and can occur with or without calcifications. The spicules are often longer than the central mass. They can mimic sclerosing adenosis and radial scars on mammography. Both these lesions tend to have long spicules. Tubular cancers have a central white nidus whereas the radial scars do not have a central mass (Fig. 35.1).