超声弹性成像诊断乳腺癌的临床价值

目的分析超声弹性成像对乳腺癌的影像学表现,探讨超声弹性成像在乳腺癌诊断的价值。方法回顾性分析37例经病理证实的乳腺癌患者,超声弹性成像的诊断符合率。结果超声弹性成像诊断乳腺癌敏感性87.50%,特异性76.92%,准确性83.78%。结论超声弹性成像诊断乳腺癌有较高的临床价值。     

Dual energy contrast enhanced soft tissue digital mammography versus ultrasound elastography in the evaluation of breast masses

Purpose

To evaluate the value of dual energy contrast enhanced (DECE) soft tissue digital mammography and ultrasound elastography (UE) in the detection of breast lesions and discrimination between benign and malignant ones.

乳腺病变的彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像与X线钼靶的诊断价值

目的:分析彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像与X线钼靶对乳腺病变的影像学表现,探讨彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像与X线钼靶在乳腺成像及诊断方面的价值。方法:回顾性分析经病理证实的479例患者共502个手术病灶,分别分析彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像与X线钼靶的诊断符合率以及三者结合的诊断符合率。结果:彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像与X线钼靶的诊断符合率分别为81.90%、83.50%、79.91%,三者相结合诊断符合率为95.62%。结论:①彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像对乳腺病变的诊断价值优于X线钼靶;②X线钼靶对钙化诊断价值高;③超声弹性成像对液化诊断价值较高;④三者结合可明显提高诊断符合率。     

Nonpalpable breast masses: evaluation by US elastography.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic performances of conventional ultrasound (US) and US elastography for the differentiation of nonpalpable breast masses, and to evaluate whether elastography is helpful at reducing the number of benign biopsies, using histological analysis as a reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional US and real-time elastographic images were obtained for 100 women who had been scheduled for a US-guided core biopsy of 100 nonpalpable breast masses (83 benign, 17 malignant). Two experienced radiologists unaware of the biopsy and clinical findings analyzed conventional US and elastographic images by consensus, and classified lesions based on degree of suspicion regarding the probability of malignancy. Results were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. In addition, the authors investigated whether a subset of lesions was categorized as suspicious by conventional US, but as benign by elastography. RESULTS: Areas under the ROC curves (Az values) were 0.901 for conventional US and 0.916 for elastography (p = 0.808). For BI-RADS category 4a lesions, 44% (22 of 50) had an elasticity score of 1 and all were found to be benign. CONCLUSION: Elastography was found to have a diagnostic performance comparable to that of conventional US for the differentiation of nonpalpable breast masses. The authors conclude that BI-RADS category 4a lesions with an elasticity score of 1 probably do not require biopsy.     

Value of adding shear wave elastography to routine breast ultrasound examination in assessment of solid breast lesions

Purpose

To assess the additional diagnostic value of share wave elastography in combination with B-mode ultrasound versus B-mode ultrasound alone in characterization of solid breast lesions.

Real-time US elastography in the differentiation of suspicious microcalcifications on mammography

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the use of US elastography in the differentiation of mammographically detected suspicious microcalcifications, using histology as the reference standard. Between May 2006 and April 2007, real-time US elasticity images were obtained in 77 patients (age range, 24–67 years; mean, 46 years) with 77 mammographically detected areas of microcalcifications (42 benign and 35 malignant lesions) prior to needle biopsy. Two experienced radiologists reviewed cine clips of elasticity and B-mode images and assigned an elasticity score of 1 to 3 in consensus, based on the degree of strain in the hypoechoic lesion without information of mammography and histology. For the elasticity score, the mean ± standard deviation was 1.5 ± 0.7 for benign and 2.7 ± 0.7 for malignant lesions (P < 0.001). When a cutoff point between elasticity scores of 1 and 2 was used, US elastography showed 97% (34/35) sensitivity, 62% (26/42) specificity, 68% (34/50) PPV, and 96% (26/27) NPV with an Az value of 0.852 (0.753–0.923, 95% confidence interval) in the differentiation of benign and malignant microcalcifications. Our results suggest that US elastography has the potential to differentiate benign and malignant lesions associated with microcalcifications detected at screening mammography.     

Comparison of the diagnostic performance of high-frequency ultrasound as a first- or second-line diagnostic tool in non-palpable lesions of the breast

To compare the diagnostic performance of high-frequency ultrasound (HFU) as a first- or second-line diagnostic tool in non-palpable lesions (NPL) of the breast and to define the place of HFU in the diagnostic process, 89 women with this kind of lesion, previously detected by mammography, underwent HFU with 7.5–13 MHz transducers. The examinations were performed by two equally experienced operators of which only one (operator I) was aware of the mammographic findings. The mammographic examinations revealed the following non-palpable lesions: asymmetry-hyperdensity (17 cases), nodule (44 cases), stellate lesion (5 cases), microcalcifications (23 cases). Total sensitivity of HFU in the examinations performed by operator I was 83 %, while in the examinations performed by operator II (unaware of the mammographic findings) it was only 35 %. In all cases HFU allowed the operators to determine the basic features of the lesions. Our experience confirms that ultrasonography, even if performed with high frequency, cannot be proposed as a screening examination but may profitably be employed as a second-step technique to characterize NPL previously identified by mammography. This ’second-step' role can do the following: rule out true pathology (cases of false-positive mammography findings); furnish some basic features in the case of focal lesions; show other findings in the case of microcalcifications, such as microcysts, ’filled duct' appearance, parenchymal inhomogeneities and nodules; guide interventional procedures; and localize lesions preoperatively. Received: 15 April 1996; Accepted: 2 January 1997     

乳腺高危病变的乳腺X线诊断及技术进展

乳腺高危病变包括良性病变及原位癌,具有发生乳腺癌的风险。高危病变首诊主要依赖于穿刺活检,但首诊后存在一定的病变升级率。对于不同的高危病变,如不典型导管增生（ADH）、乳头状瘤伴不典型增生、放射状瘢痕、小叶原位癌（LCIS）、不典型小叶增生（ALH）、黏液囊肿样病变、平坦上皮非典型增生等,乳腺X线检查的诊断及处理原则并不完全相同。就乳腺X线检查对高危病变的诊断、处理、预后评估的研究进展予以综述。     

全数字化乳腺摄影对妇女致密型乳腺病变的诊断价值

目的探讨全数字化乳腺摄影（FFDM）对妇女致密型乳腺病变的诊断价值。方法搜集2003年4月至2004年9月门诊及体检者行FFDM的3500余例中致密型乳腺的66例乳腺癌及6例癌前病变，12例囊性增生症，58例纤维腺瘤，1例结核，4例囊肿，11例乳腺腺病作为研究对象。全部病例采用美国GE公司的平板2000D全数字化乳腺摄影机检查，并经病理证实。检查体位常规采用头足位（CC）、内外斜位（MLO），必要时加摄侧位及局部点片。对临床未触及肿块的乳腺癌，均行术前定位。结果72例乳腺癌及癌前病变中，临床触及肿块者57例，未触及肿块者15例。影像表现为肿块23例；肿块并微小钙化18例；片状弥漫微小钙化伴局部结构紊乱11例；结构紊乱并粗长毛刺12例；簇状微小钙化2例；片簇状微小钙化1例；结构紊乱1例；小星状结构1例；长毛刺星状结构1例；平片无明显影像表现2例，其中1例仅导管造影显示僵硬、中断。共发现假阳性10例，假阴性5例，得出FFDM对乳腺癌诊断的敏感性、特异性、准确性分别为93．06％、88．37％、90．51％。良性病变中，58例纤维腺瘤，表现为肿块38例，肿块伴钙化20例；12例囊性增生症，表现为肿块10例，肿块伴点状钙化2例；11例乳腺腺病，表现为肿块9例，肿块伴点状钙化2例。4例囊肿和1例结核，均表现为肿块。结论FFDM能清晰显示乳腺癌的直接及间接征象，尤其能够显示致密乳腺的结构紊乱、粗长毛刺及微小钙化，对临床未触及肿块的乳腺癌及癌前病变具有重要的诊断价值。     

Role of combined grey scale US and US tissue elastography in differentiating solid thyroid nodules

Background

Ultrasonographic (US) examination is an accurate method for detecting thyroid nodules, but its use in differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules is relatively low. US elastography has been applied to study the hardness/elasticity of nodules to differentiate malignant from benign lesions thus deviating a significant group of patients from unnecessary FNAB.

Objectives

The aim of the study is to evaluate the validity of combined grey scale US and tissue elastography in differentiating benign form malignant solid thyroid nodules.

Methods

The study included 46 selected patients with solid thyroid nodules according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients underwent surgery for compressive symptoms or suspicion of malignancy on FNA cytology. US features and tissue elastography were scored according to the Rago criteria (1).

Results

On US elastography: all the 31 cases with a final diagnosis of benign nodule had a score of 1–3, while 14 of 15 (94.1%) with a final diagnosis of carcinoma had a score of 4–5, with a sensitivity of 93.3%, a specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 97.8%. Combined US and elastography reveals that hypoechogenicity/score 4–5 was most predictive of malignancy with sensitivity 80% and specificity 100%; and accuracy 93.4%.

Conclusions

US elastography seems to have great potential as a new tool for differentiating solid thyroid nodules and for recommending FNAC. Combined grey scale US features and US elastography added no significant value when compared with US elastography alone. Further prospective studies are needed.     

全数字化乳腺X线摄影对乳腺肿块的良恶性鉴别价值

目的:探讨全数字化乳腺X线摄影图像特点对乳腺肿块定性诊断的价值。方法:收集185例经病理证实以肿块为主的乳腺病患者的临床和影像资料,对222个病灶的形态、边缘、密度、大小及周围结构改变的发生率分别进行统计分析。结果:肿块的形态、边缘、密度及周围结构扭曲、伴随病理结构在良恶性病变间差异有统计学意义(P0.05),特别是肿块边缘征象及周围结构改变对肿块良恶性具有鉴别诊断价值。边缘清晰、周围结构正常在良性病变中明显高于恶性病变;边缘模糊、毛刺及周围结构扭曲、紊乱,伴随病理结构在恶性病变中明显高于良性病变,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。以2cm为界,肿块大小对病变定性差异无统计学意义(P=0.235)。结论:乳腺X线摄影对良恶性肿块具有重要鉴别诊断价值。     

超声弹性成像技术及三维成像技术对乳腺肿块诊断的临床价值

目的：探讨超声弹性成像技术结合三维成像技术在乳腺肿块良恶性临床鉴别与诊断中的应用价值。方法本文对125例接受诊治的乳腺肿块者采用超声弹性成像技术结合三维成像技术进行良恶性鉴别和诊断,并与病理结果对照。结果125例患者的139个病灶中恶性病灶19个,占13．67％;良性病灶120个,占86．33％。按照超声弹性成像评分3分以下（包括3分）为良性病灶标准,实时组织弹性成像评分在4分以上（包括4分）为恶性病灶标准,进行超声弹性成像评分鉴别诊断乳腺病灶良恶性的效能分析发现,超声弹性成像评分对良恶性鉴别诊断符合率为89．93％。超声弹性成像技术结合三维成像技术后,从形态结构、内部回声、与周边组织关系及肿块内血流情况,进一步判断乳腺肿块的良恶性,结果显示超声弹性成像技术结合三维成像技术诊断对良恶性鉴别诊断符合率为94．24％。结论超声弹性成像技术结合三维成像技术综合评价乳腺肿块的良、恶性,三维超声能提供更加丰富的三维空间信息,超声弹性成像可以有效发现微小病灶,二者互补,可以明显提高超声影像技术的准确率。     

Computer-assisted assessment of ultrasound real-time elastography: Initial experience in 145 breast lesions

PurposeTo develop and evaluate a computer-assisted method of quantifying five-point elasticity scoring system based on ultrasound real-time elastography (RTE), for classifying benign and malignant breast lesions, with pathologic results as the reference standard.Materials and methodsConventional ultrasonography (US) and RTE images of 145 breast lesions (67 malignant, 78 benign) were performed in this study. Each lesion was automatically contoured on the B-mode image by the level set method and mapped on the RTE image. The relative elasticity value of each pixel was reconstructed and classified into hard or soft by the fuzzy c-means clustering method. According to the hardness degree inside lesion and its surrounding tissue, the elasticity score of the RTE image was computed in an automatic way. Visual assessments of the radiologists were used for comparing the diagnostic performance. Histopathologic examination was used as the reference standard. The Student's t test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed for statistical analysis.ResultsConsidering score 4 or higher as test positive for malignancy, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 93.8% (136/145), 92.5% (62/67), 94.9% (74/78), 93.9% (62/66), and 93.7% (74/79) for the computer-assisted scheme, and 89.7% (130/145), 85.1% (57/67), 93.6% (73/78), 92.0% (57/62), and 88.0% (73/83) for manual assessment. Area under ROC curve (A_z value) for the proposed method was higher than the A_z value for visual assessment (0.96 vs. 0.93).ConclusionComputer-assisted quantification of classical five-point scoring system can significantly eliminate the interobserver variability and thereby improve the diagnostic confidence of classifying the breast lesions to avoid unnecessary biopsy.     

Value of combined real time sonoelastography and apparent diffusion coefficient value measurement in differentiation of enlarged neck lymph nodes

Purpose

To evaluate the role of real-time sonoelastography (UE) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value measurement in differentiating benign versus malignant enlarged neck lymph nodes.

Materials and methods

This study included 26 patients presented with 32 enlarged neck lymph nodes (LNs), underwent real-time UE and diffusion weighted MRI (DWI). ADC maps are generated from DWI and ADC values were calculated. Both UE and ADC findings were compared with histopathological results.

Results

The LNs were 12 benign lymphadenopathy (37.5%, seen in 10 patients), 10 metastatic (31.25% seen in 8 patients) and 10 lymphoma (31.25%, seen in 8 patients) including 4 LNs with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL, seen in 3 patients) and 6 LNs with non Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL, seen in 5 patients). On UE 10 of the 12 benign LNs had pattern of 1–2 (83.3%) and 18 of 20 neoplastic LNs (90%) had pattern of 4–5. The mean ADC values of the benign, metastases and lymphoma groups were 1.52 ± 0.37, 0.90 ± 0.15 and 0.72 ± 0.12 × 10⁻³ (mm²/s), respectively.

Conclusion

Combined real-time UE and ADC value measurement are non invasive techniques useful for differentiation of enlarged neck lymph. The combination potentially could reduce unnecessary biopsy especially for elasticity pattern 1–2.     

乳腺癌X线影像学表现与病理对照研究

目的：分析乳腺癌影像学特征和病理表现,揭示影像病理基础,提高影像诊断的准确性。方法：50例病人均经影像学检查及手术病理证实,在镜下观察病灶内部、边缘及周围结构。结果：50例乳腺癌中肿块影21例,微小钙化24例,致密影9例,星芒影3例,局部结构紊乱9例,血管影增多、增粗7例;病理为浸润性导管癌22例,单纯癌21例,大汗腺样癌3例,粘液腺癌2例,乳头状癌1例,小叶浸润癌1例。结论：致密影、星芒征可作为早期乳腺癌的特征影像学表现,结构紊乱、血管影增多及增粗是乳腺癌重要的影像学间接征象。     

Incremental value of real-time ultrasound elastography in differentiating breast masses

Aim of the work

To evaluate the value of real-time ultrasound elastography (RTE) in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses.

Materials and methods

This study included, whether palpable or non-palpable, 145 sonographically proven breast masses in 121 patients, imaged by conventional B-mode US, color-flow Doppler US and RTE with histopathological analysis considered as the golden standard reference.

Results

Lesions were differentiated into benign and malignant by conventional B-mode US (79; 45.5% and 66; 54.5%, respectively), RTE (80; 55.2% and 65; 44.8% respectively), and histopathology (82; 56.6% and 63; 43.4%, respectively). The mean difference in the mass size was significant between B-mode US and RTE in malignant masses (P = 0.002), while not significant among benign masses (P = 0.153). The B-mode US depicted sensitivity of 92.06%, specificity of 90.24%, PPV of 87.88%, NPV of 93.67% and accuracy of 91.03%, while the RTE showed sensitivity of 98.41%, specificity of 96.34%, PPV of 95.38%, NPV of 98.75% and accuracy of 97.24%.

Conclusion

Combined use of RTE can complement conventional B-mode US with improving its diagnostic performance in differentiating breast lesions with subsequent reduction in the rate of unnecessary biopsies in benign lesions.     

Analysis of 107 breast lesions with automated 3D ultrasound and comparison with mammography and manual ultrasound

Objectives

Our aim was to investigate the diagnostic potential of an automated ultrasound (US) breast scanner prototype and compare it with manual US and mammography.

Methods

Ninety-seven patients with a total of 107 breast lesions had mammograms, manual US and an automated breast US scan. Multiplanar reconstructions in coronal, axial and the sagittal view were reconstructed from the automated dataset and visualized. After biopsy, all lesions were confirmed histologically. The data were evaluated according to the BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) classification. The sensitivity and specificity were analyzed.

Results

The BIRADS criterion “margin” was significantly related to the overall BIRADS classification, independently of the US method being used. The sensitivity of mammography was significantly lower than of each US method (Fisher's exact test with p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the US methods.

Conclusions

The reconstructed third (axial) image plane of the whole breast, which corresponds to a craniocaudal mammogram, can give additional information about both, site and differential diagnosis of a lesion. Although image quality was sufficient, automated US is not good enough to replace manual US at this time.     

Targeted ultrasound for MR-detected lesions in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of targeted ultrasound (US) in the identification of additional suspicious lesions found by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in breast cancer patients and the changes in treatment based on the identification of the lesions by the use of targeted US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred forty nine patients who underwent breast MR imaging for a preoperative evaluation of breast cancer between January 2002 and July 2004 were included in the study. We searched all cases for any additional lesions that were found initially by MR imaging and investigated the performance of targeted US in identifying the lesions. We also investigated their pathological outcomes and changes in treatment as a result of lesion identification. RESULTS: Of the 149 patients with breast cancer, additional suspicious lesions were detected with MR imaging in 62 patients (42%). Of the 69 additional lesions found in those 62 patients, 26 (38%) were confirmed as cancers by histology. Thirty-eight lesions in 31 patients were examined with targeted US and were histologically revealed as cancers in 18 (47%), high risk lesions in two (5%), benign lesions in 15 (39%), and unidentified lesions in three (8%). The cancer rate was statistically higher in lesions with a US correlate than in lesions without a US correlate (p = 0.028). Of 31 patients, the surgical plan was altered in 27 (87%). The use of targeted US justified a change in treatment for 22 patients (81%) and misled five patients (19%) into having an unnecessary surgical excision. CONCLUSION: Targeted US can play a useful role in the evaluation of additional suspicious lesions detected by MR imaging in breast cancer patients, but is limited in lesions without a US correlate.     

乳腺摄影与超声弹性成像对乳腺疾病诊断的对比性研究

目的:评价乳腺摄影、普通超声及超声联合弹性成像技术对乳腺病变的诊断价值。方法:回顾性分析1l6个乳腺病灶(恶性30个、良性86个)的术前乳腺摄影、普通超声及超声联合弹性成像对乳腺疾病的诊断结果,将病变按BI-RADS分类后,分别与病理结果对照分析,计算三种方法诊断的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、准确率,采用McNemar 2检验,评价诊断效果。结果:乳腺摄影、普通超声及超声联合弹性成像诊断的敏感性、特异性、准确率、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为:46.67%、95.35%、82.76%、77.78%、83.68%;63.33%、96.51%、87.93%、82.61%、89.25%;86.67%、96.51%、93.97%8、3.87%97.65%。乳腺摄影成像与超声弹性成像诊断结果有统计学差异(P(0.05),普通超声与超声弹性成像诊断结果有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:超声弹性成像作为超声诊断的辅助模式之一,有助于提高超声乳腺检查的准确性。