[A correlative study of sex hormonal receptor status and mammographic appearance in primary breast cancer].

The relation between the sex hormonal receptor status and the mammographic appearance of the primary breast cancer in 162 patients was studied. The hormonal receptor status of breast cancer could be inferred by its shape and size as seen on the mammogram. The hormonal receptor level tended to be high tumors with prominent spiculate shadows or when the size of the tumor was small regardless of its shape, but lower in the majority of tumors which were large and lumpy with less hair-like projections or devoid of spicules. The mechanism of this phenomenon has been investigated. In addition, 119 patients with mammography taken of the opposite breast were analysed and no correlation was found between Wolfe's parenchymal pattern and hormonal receptor status. The authors suggested that mammography might be a simple and reliable method of assess the hormonal receptor status in breast cancer.