Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical profile of breast lesions diagnosed by core needle biopsy: a retrospective study from Sf. Ioan Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently type of cancer diagnosed among women worldwide, according to current epidemiological data. It represents also a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and there are many disparities in stage at diagnosis due to differences among patients' education and access to care. Accurate tissue diagnosis is mandatory to provide best treatment decisions. The positive diagnosis is provided by image-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) that offers adequate tissue for both histopathological (HP) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. The examination of the tissue remains fundamental for establishing tumor subtype and appropriate treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The study evaluates HP and IHC characteristics of BC tumors obtained by CNB in a tertiary care hospital in Bucharest, Romania.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 39 patients diagnosed with breast tumors at Sf. Ioan Hospital, in Bucharest, between January 2024 and December 2024. Data extracted included tumor laterality, quadrant location, histological type and hormone receptor status. This included estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, and the Ki-67 proliferation index (PI). Cases were classified into molecular subtypes. All biopsies were performed on clinically palpable lesions.

RESULTS

Among the 39 biopsies, invasive BC of no special type (NST) represented the predominant malignant subtype. Most tumors were ER-positive and∕or PR-positive, with HER2-negative expression being the leading phenotype. Ki-67 PI values were frequently ≥20%, indicating a high-proliferation profile in a substantial proportion of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This single-center retrospective study provides insight into the distribution of key pathological and molecular features among newly diagnosed BC patients in a Romanian clinic. Our findings highlight the importance of accurate biopsy-based profiling in guiding treatment strategies.