Interstitial fluid pressure in breast cancer, benign breast conditions, and breast parenchyma

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Abstract
Background: Interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) in rodent malignant tumors is reportedly much higher than in surrounding normal tissue. We hypothesized the same may be true in human invasive breast tumors. Methods: We measured IFP in the operating room in 25 patients undergoing excision breast biopsy under local anesthetic for diagnostic purposes. Results: In patients with invasive ductal carcinomas IFP was 29 ± 3 (SE) mm Hg, compared with −0.3 ± 0.1 mm Hg in those with normal breast parenchyma (p < 0.001), 3.6 ± 0.8 mm Hg in those with benign tumors (p < 0.003), −0.3 ± 0.2 mm Hg in those with noninvasive carcinomas (p = 0.034), and 0.4 ± 0.4 mm Hg in those with other benign breast conditions (p = 0.002). There was a direct correlation between IFP and tumor size (R 2 = 0.3977; p = 0.021). No correlation was found between IFP and nuclear grade, angiolymphatic invasion, systemic blood pressure, metastasis to lymph nodes, or estrogen and progesterone receptors. Conclusions: IFP measurements may facilitate radiographic or ultrasound localization of small or nonpalpable malignant tumors in those patients undergoing needle aspiration cytology or stereotactic core needle biopsy.