Objective  To explore clinicopathological features, imaging diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of tubular carcinoma of the breast.

  Methods  This retrospective study included 94 patients in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from 2006 to 2012 aged 27 years or older who were histologically diagnosed with tubular carcinoma of the breast. Collected data comprised clinical characteristics, histopathological features, and breast sonographic and mammographic features of patients.

  Results   Positive rate of breast sonography reached 74.5% (70/94), which is significantly higher than that of breast mammography examination (60.6%, 57/94)(P=0.043). Patients in our study showed high estrogen-receptor (ER) and progesterone-receptor (PR) positive rate but low human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-positive rate. PR-positive rate of pure tubular carcinoma totaled 95.2% (60/63), which is significantly higher than that of mixed tubular carcinoma (80.6%, 25/31). In mixed tubular carcinoma, positive rate of HER-2 expression reached 37.9% (11/29), which is significantly higher than that of pure tubular carcinoma (17.7%, 11/62). Differences between groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Tubular carcinoma of the breast features potential malignancy and favorable prognosis. Therefore, breast conservation treatment is recommended. In view of low incidence of axillary node metastases, post-operative radiation therapy is considered unnecessary. However, tubular carcinoma yields a certain recurrence rate. Thus, follow-up imaging of contralateral breast remains significant.