Contrast enhanced computed tomography is indicative for angiogenesis pattern and display prognostic significance in breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The Prognostic value of microvessel density in cancer remains unclear. Recent studies have suggested that the uneven distribution of microvessels in tumours caused the variation in sample selection which led to different prognostic outcome. The enhancement pattern of Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is determined in part by the microvessel distribution in solid tumors. Therefore, survival analysis of tumors grouping by the enhancement pattern and the pattern of microvessel distribution is important. METHODS: Survival analysis grouped by the tumor enhancement pattern and the microvessel distribution was carried out in 255 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. RESULTS: There were significant differences in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) among the homogeneous, heterogeneous and peripheral enhancement groups. There were significant differences between OS and DFS groups with uniform and uneven distributions of microvessels. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of microvessels in a tumor is a potential prognostic indicator in patients with breast cancer, and can be assessed by CECT prior the operation.