Papillary lesions of the breast: MRI, ultrasound, and mammographic appearances

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe the different imaging appearances of benign and malignant papillary lesions of the breast as well as to point out potential errors of interpretation that can lead to misdiagnosis. CONCLUSION: There is a wide spectrum of appearances of papillary lesions of the breast on MRI, ultrasound, and mammography. This variable appearance of papillary lesions makes differentiation of benign from malignant pathologies difficult on imaging, and tissue sampling is usually warranted.     

Papillary lesions of the breast: evaluation with stereotactic directional vacuum-assisted biopsy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of stereotactic directional vacuum-assisted biopsy (SDVAB) in diagnosing and managing papillary lesions of the breast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the mammographic and histopathologic findings of 26 cases in which papillary lesions were diagnosed at SDVAB. In all cases, subsequent surgical excision (n = 20) or long-term imaging follow-up (n = 6) was performed and correlated with findings at SDVAB. RESULTS: SDVAB of 26 lesions yielded tissue that was classified as benign in 12, atypical in six, and malignant in eight. Of the 12 lesions that were diagnosed as histologically benign at SDVAB, six were surgically excised. Of these six lesions, five yielded benign correlative results. The sixth lesion was thought to be discordant with the imaging findings, and was surgically excised and determined to be malignant. Of the six benign lesions that were not surgically sampled for biopsy, five decreased in size and one was not seen at radiographic follow-up. Of the six lesions diagnosed as atypical at SDVAB that were surgically excised, one was benign and five were atypical. None proved to be malignant. Of the eight lesions diagnosed as malignant at SDVAB, surgical excision demonstrated ductal carcinoma in situ in all eight; two also had foci of invasive carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Benign and malignant papillary lesions of the breast can be reliably diagnosed at SDVAB when the SDVAB results correlate with the imaging findings. However, the extent of malignant papillary disease may be underestimated at SDVAB; in our study, invasive carcinoma was later discovered in 25% of patients with this diagnosis.     

Proliferative high-risk lesions of the breast: contribution and limits of US-guided core biopsy

PURPOSE: To retrospectively correlate high-risk proliferative breast lesions (radial scar, atypical lobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ and papillary lesions) diagnosed on core biopsy with the definitive histopathological diagnosis obtained after surgical excision or with the follow-up, in order to assess the role of core biopsy in such lesions. To discuss the management of the patient after a core biopsy diagnosis of high-risk proliferative breast lesion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated 74 out of 1776 core biopsies consecutively performed on 67 patients. The histopathologic findings were as follows: 11 radial scars (RS), 3 atypical lobular hyperplasias (ALH), 3 lobular carcinomas in situ (LCIS), 57 benign papillary lesions. All patients underwent bilateral mammography, whole-breast ultrasound with a linear-array broadband transducer, and core biopsy with a 14 Gauge needle and a mean number of samples of 5 (range 4-7). Sixty-two of 67 patients, for a total of 69/74 lesions, underwent surgical biopsy despite benign histopathologic findings, mostly because of highly suspicious imaging for malignancy (BIRADS 4-5), whereas 5 patients refused surgery and have been followed up for a least 18 months and are still being followed up (2 with RS, 1 with ADH and 2 with papillary lesions). RESULTS: Among the core biopsied lesions with a diagnosis of RS (n = 11) pathology revealed one ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (this case was characterized by granular microcalcifications on mammography and by a mass with irregular margins on ultrasound). Also in the group of ADH (n = 3) pathology revealed one DCIS (lesion not visible on mammography but depicted as a suspicious mass on US). In the group of LCIS (n = 3) pathologists found an invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Among the benign papillary lesions (n = 57) histopathologic analysis of the surgical specimen revealed 7 malignant lesions (4 papillary carcinomas and 3 DCIS), whose mammographic and ultrasound findings were indistinguishable from benign lesions. Altogether there were 10 false negative results (underestimation) out of 74 core biopsies with a diagnosis of high-risk proliferative breast lesions. CONCLUSION: The high rate of histological underestimation after core biopsy (10/74) (13.5%) demands a very careful management of patents with a core biopsy diagnosis of high-risk proliferative breast lesions, especially in the case of RS, lobular neoplasia and papillary lesions. However, the high imaging suspicion for malignancy prompts surgery. It is possible to assume that, when there is a low imaging suspicion for malignancy, when enough tissue has been sampled for pathology and no atypia is found within the lesions, surgery is not mandatory but a very careful follow-up is recommended. We must underline that there is no agreement regarding the quantity of tissue to sample. Vacuum-assisted biopsy may lead to better results, although there is as yet no proof that it can actually replace surgery in this group of lesions, since it seems only to reduce but not abolish the histological underestimation.     

Sonographically-Guided 14-Gauge Core Needle Biopsy for Papillary Lesions of the Breast

Objective

We wanted to assess the need for surgical excising papillary lesions of the breast that were diagnosed upon sonographically guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy.

Materials and Methods

Sixty-nine women (age range: 25-74 years, mean age: 51.7 years) with 69 papillary lesions (4.9%) were diagnosed and followed after performing sonographically guided 14-gauge core needle biopsies. Surgical excision was performed for 44 (64%) of 69 papillary lesions, and 25 lesions were followed with imaging studies (range: 6-46 months, mean: 17.9 months). The histologic findings upon core biopsy were compared with the surgical, imaging and follow-up findings.

Results

Core needle biopsies of 69 lesions yielded tissue that was classified as benign for 43 lesions, atypical for 18 lesions and malignant for eight lesions. Of the 43 lesions that yielded benign papilloma upon core needle biopsy, one had intraductal papillary carcinoma found upon surgery. An immediate surgical biopsy was recommended for this lesion because of the imaging-histologic discordance. No additional carcinoma was found during the imaging follow-up. Surgical excision was performed for 17 atypical papillary lesions, and this revealed intraductal (n = 6) or invasive (n = 2) papillary carcinoma in 8 (47%) lesions. Of the seven intraductal papillary carcinomas, surgery revealed invasive papillary carcinoma in one (14%).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that papillary lesions of the breast that are diagnosed as benign upon sonographically guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy can be followed when the results are concordant with the imaging findings.     

Papillary lesions of the breast: diagnostic imaging and contribution of percutaneous needle biopsy with 14G needle

PURPOSE: To evaluate the presence of suggestive mammographic, US, color-Doppler, RM findings of 33 PLB and to show the accuracy of the large-core biopsy in evaluating these lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review of imaging-guided large-core biopsy of 860 consecutive lesions revealed that PLB were diagnosed in 31/33 cases and 3 were suspicious papillary lesions. Surgical correlation was available for all these lesions. Mammography and US were performed in all patients, Color-Doppler in 13/33 and MR in 10/33. RESULTS: Histological findings by percutaneous biopsy demonstrated 26 (79%) benign, 3 (9%) atypical, and 4 (12%) malignant lesions. Histological findings after surgery confirmed the diagnosis for benign and malignant lesions, while of the 3 atypical lesions, 1 was benign and 2 were malignant. One encysted papillary carcinoma in situ at core-biopsy was classified as invasive papillary carcinoma after surgery. PLB were usually found (52%) in subareolar location and the mean size was 17 mm (range 5-60 mm). The most frequent mammographic appearance of benign PLB was of a well-defined (71%), oval (53%) mass. The microcalcifications had variable features; they were isolated in 3/27 (15%) cases and associated with masses in 4/27 (20%). The mammographic finding of papillary carcinoma was of a well-defined (50%) or ill-defined, oval (50%) or lobulated (50%) mass, but never of a spiculated mass. US finding of the benign PLB most commonly showed a well-defined (84%), oval (84%), complex solid/cystic (52%) mass with frequently (60%) posterior enhancement. US finding of papillary carcinoma was of a well-defined (50%) or ill-defined (50%), oval (50%) or lobulated (50%) mass, most commonly solid-inhomogenous-hypoechoic. Color-Doppler showed high blood flow in 8/10 benign PLB and in 2/3 malignant PLB. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging demonstrated usually well-circumscribed, round masses (71%). The intensity/time curve showed marked focal enhancement (peak signal intensity over 70% at the first minute) in both benign and malignant lesions. DISCUSSION: Often the patients with PBL were symptomatic (for presence of nipple discharge or palpable mass). 31/33 papillary lesions identified at the subsequent imaging-guided large-core biopsy and in the 3/33 remaining lesions percutaneous core-biopsy required a subsequent surgical biopsy for the atypical papillary lesions. US proved to have the highest sensitivity, showing the suggestive feature of a frond-like mass within a dilated duct, and color-Doppler demonstrated high blood flow (which should be considered in differential diagnosis of galactocele). Mammographic finding of papillary lesions was often consistent with benign lesions (fibroadenoma, cyst). MR confirmed the high vascularization of these lesions, showing marked enhancement of the solid component. CONCLUSIONS: US, with Color-Doppler, proved to be the most useful examination for the identification and demonstration of the solid component of these lesions, which, observed further diagnostic investigation. As no definite mammographic, sonographic or RM pattern could be identified to differentiate between benign and malignant PLB, core-biopsy was required. Percutaneous biopsy has shown to be reliable in the diagnosis of benign and malignant PLB (without any false negative): infact, any atypical lesions require surgical examination. The framing of benign and malignant PLB with imaging and core-biopsy was useful because the frequent association of benign PLB with concurrent or subsequent breast carcinoma suggests surgical excision and radiological follow-up.     

Radiological appearances of papillary breast lesions

This review illustrates the varied appearances of benign and malignant papillary breast tumours, as identified by a breast cancer-screening programme. The commonest mammographic appearance of a papillary tumour is as a soft-tissue mass, with calcification present in less than half of cases. When calcification is present the pattern is variable, but clusters of pleomorphic calcification can occur, sometimes resembling the mammographic appearance of invasive ductal carcinoma. Ultrasonography of papillary lesions typically shows a solid, oval, intraductal mass, often associated with duct dilatation. A cystic component is also commonly seen, and lesions may appear hypervascular on colour Doppler ultrasound. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a high sensitivity, but low specificity for detecting papillary tumours, and is useful in establishing the extent and distribution of lesions in patients with multiple papillomatosis. Despite a benign histology on core biopsy, an argument exists for complete surgical excision of all papillary tumours, as a significant proportion of papillomas will contain foci of atypia or overt malignant change.     

Nonmalignant papillary lesions of the breast at US-guided directional vacuum-assisted removal: a preliminary report

This study was conducted to assess the accuracy of US-guided directional vacuum-assisted removal (US-DVAR) in evaluating nonmalignant papillary breast lesions. This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board at our institution; patient consent was not required. We reviewed the clinical and pathology findings from a total of 39 papillary lesions diagnosed at vacuum-assisted removal in 37 patients (age range, 26-60 years; mean age, 44.5 years). Over the follow-up period, we evaluated whether any histologic upgrade occurred and whether or not residual lesions were detected on follow-up imaging. US-DVAR of 39 lesions yielded tissue that was classified as benign in 35 and atypical in 4. Of the 35 lesions that were diagnosed as histologically benign at US-DVAR, 2 were surgically excised. Both of them yielded benign results. Of the 33 benign lesions that were not surgically excised, 28 (85%) were not seen at radiographic follow-up. Of the four lesions diagnosed as atypical at US-DVAR that were surgically excised, all the four were benign. None proved to be malignant. The upgrade rate was 0.0% (95% confidence interval, 0-9%). Among our patients, diagnosis by US-DVAR of benign papillary lesions proved to be accurate, and benign papillary lesions at US-DVAR did not need to be surgically excised for accurate diagnosis.     

Unusual malignant tumors of the breast: MRI features and pathologic correlation

Unusual malignant breast tumors are well-differentiated subtypes of invasive ductal carcinoma, including mucinous, tubular, medullary and papillary carcinomas, and account for about 10% of malignant breast tumors. They are increasingly being encountered during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of the breast. Therefore, breast radiologists should be aware of their appearance on MRI.This review provides an overview of MRI characteristics of a range of unusual tumors (mucinous carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, intraductal papillary carcinoma, intracystic papillary carcinoma and invasive papillary carcinoma), highlighting specific clues for diagnosis and correlating MRI and pathologic features. Many unusual breast tumors exhibit MRI features similar to those of benign or low suspicious lesions (oval shape, well-defined margins, high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, continuous increase kinetics, i.e. type I dynamic curve), leading to a possible misdiagnosis. Nevertheless, an understanding of pathologic features of these tumors, especially tissue content (mucinous, fibrous) and growth pattern, can help to define some specific clues for their diagnosis.     

基于MR早期动态增强的影像组学标签鉴别乳腺良恶性病变的价值

目的:探讨基于MR早期动态增强的影像组学标签鉴别乳腺良恶性病变的价值.方法:回顾性搜集通过乳腺动态对比增强MRI(DCE-MRI)检查,发现乳腺结节或肿块的144例患者(146个病变),146个病变按照样本量7:3随机抽样选取良性病变与恶性病变(102个作为训练组,44个作为验证组).所有病例基于病变的三维图像对影像组...     

A preliminary report on the role of spatial frequency analysis in the perception of breast cancers missed at mammography screening

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Because several factors are involved in cancer detection, a malignant lesion that is visible on a mammogram will not necessarily be reported by the radiologist reading the case. Indeed, a significant fraction of screening-detected cancers are visible in retrospect, and were perceived by the radiologist when the case was read, but were either reported as benign findings or dismissed as variations of normal breast tissue. In this preliminary report the spatial frequency characteristics of clinically missed lesions are investigated by analyzing the mammogram acquired when the lesion was sent for biopsy and the most recent prior mammogram. For control purposes, the contralateral breast is also analyzed, when this breast is lesion free. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database of 70 mammogram cases was assembled. Each case contained eight films: craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) of the breast where a biopsy-proven lesion was found, CC and MLO of the contralateral breast, and CC and MLO of both breasts in the most recent prior mammogram. The dictated reports for all of these cases were obtained. Both benign and malignant lesions were used. The films were digitized and an region of interest surrounding each lesion was segmented from the image for processing using wavelet packets to extract spatial frequency information. The corresponding area was also segmented from the prior mammogram and from the contralateral breast, when this breast was lesion-free. Analysis of variance was used to determine if statistically significant differences existed between the derived features of cancer in the current and prior mammograms. RESULTS: The data suggests that malignant lesions reported in the prior mammogram as being benign differed from correctly reported malignant lesions and from correctly reported benign lesions. They also differed from nonreported malignant lesions. In addition, the spatial frequency representation of cancer significantly differed in the current and prior cases from the representation of normal breast tissue. CONCLUSION: Spatial frequency analysis may be useful to differentiate malignant lesions that are reported as benign and correctly reported benign lesions.     

乳腺内钙化在乳腺癌中的诊断价值

目的:探讨乳内钙化灶在诊断乳腺癌中的价值。方法:搜集乳腺X线片中出现钙化并经手术病理或穿刺活检证实的乳腺癌116例,良性病变40例,通过8项指标分析钙化在乳腺良、恶性病变中的差异。结果:乳腺良、恶性病变的钙化在形态、颗粒大小、数量、平均密度、密度是否均匀、密集度及分布7个方面均存在显著差异(P0.05),其中以密集度、形态、平均密度及颗粒大小差异最显著(P0.001);而大小是否一致无显著差异(P0.05)。结论:乳腺钙化的X线表现对乳腺癌的诊断具有重要价值。     

Differentiation of clinically benign and malignant breast lesions using diffusion-weighted imaging

PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two female subjects (mean age = 58 years, age range = 25-75 years) with histopathologically proven breast lesions underwent DWI of the breasts with a single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence using large b values. The computed mean apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the breast lesions and cell density were then correlated. RESULTS: The ADCs varied substantially between benign breast lesions ((1.57 +/- 0.23) x 10(-3) mm(2)/second) and malignant breast lesions ((0.97 +/- 0.20) x 10(-3) mm(2)/second). In addition, the mean ADCs of the breast lesions correlated well with tumor cellularity (P < 0.01, r = -0.542). CONCLUSION: The ADC would be an effective parameter in distinguishing between malignant and benign breast lesions. Further, tumor cellularity has a significant influence on the ADCs obtained in both benign and malignant breast tumors.     

Characterization of benign and malignant breast lesions with computed tomography laser mammography (CTLM): initial experience

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize benign and malignant breast lesions with computed tomography-laser mammography (CTLM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 100 female patients with 105 breast lesions classified as BIRADS IV to V at mammography underwent mammography, CTLM, and histologic verification at our institution. CTLM images were analyzed by radiologists with knowledge of the lesion's position but who were blinded to histology and morphologic findings from mammography. Two radiologists independently evaluated whether there was increased absorption, a sign of malignancy, on CTLM and assessed the appearance (volumes or linear branching) and shape (round or irregular) of the lesions. RESULTS: Histologic analysis revealed 55 benign (52.4%) and 50 malignant (47.6%) breast lesions. Increased absorption was observed significantly more often in malignant than in benign lesions (70.0% vs. 32.7%, P = 0.028). Invasive cancer showed increased absorption in 76.2%, and ductal carcinoma in situ in 37.5%. Common morphologic characteristics of increased absorption were "volumes" (85.7% of malignant and 77.8% of benign lesions) with round shape (78.1% of malignant and 73.3% of benign lesions). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that CTLM, when used as an adjunct to mammography, may provide additional information to characterize benign and malignant breast lesions.     

点压X线放大摄影技术在乳腺微小病变中的应用

目的:探讨点压X线放大摄影技术在乳腺微小病变中的应用价值。方法:通过对68例钼靶X线行常规CC位和MLO位,并辅以点压X线放大摄影技术对临床可扪及肿块但影像结构紊乱以及单纯钙化不能扪及肿块的乳腺进行良恶性鉴别。结果:68例患者行常规CC位及MLO位摄片,有11例能明确影像学诊断,病灶检出率为16.2%,其中良性诊断4例,恶性诊断7例;经点压X线放大摄影后,68例患者中有59例能明确影像学诊断,病灶检出率为86.8%,其中良性诊断32例,恶性诊断27例,卡方检验结果证明,点压X线放大摄影检出率显著高于常规摄片检出率(P<0.01)。结论:在乳腺X线摄影中应用点压X线放大摄影,可对常规CC位和MLO位未能清楚显示的微小钙化和细微伴随征象进行观察,能够提高微小病变的检出率,利于良恶性肿瘤的鉴别诊断,减少乳腺癌的漏诊,增加诊断的准确性,具有重要临床指导意义。     

Role of sonographic elastography in the differential diagnosis of papillary lesions in breast

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of elastography, conventional ultrasonography (US) and combined conventional US and elastography for differentiation of papillary breast lesions.

Materials and methods

A total of 95 papillary lesions (69 benign, 20 atypical and 6 malignant) in 87 patients were examined with conventional US and elastography. We evaluated conventional US images according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System and internal composition (solid vs. cystic) and elastographic images according to elasticity scores. We compared diagnostic performances of elastography, conventional US and the combined method.

Results

Areas under the receiver-operating curve were 0.794 for elastography, 0.875 for conventional US and 0.787 for the combined method. When the elasticity score cutoff was between 2 and 3, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 100, 55.1, 13 and 100?%, respectively. The combined method showed similar sensitivity (100 vs. 100?%) to and higher specificity (57.3 vs. 5.6?%) than conventional US alone. No significant difference was found in the elasticity scores of cystic papillary lesions according to pathology.

Conclusion

Elastography improved the specificity of conventional US in differentiating between benign or atypical and malignant papillary breast lesions when it was combined with conventional US.     

Computerized analysis of lesions in US images of the breast

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Breast sonography is not routinely used to distinguish benign from malignant solid masses because of considerable overlap in their sonographic appearances. The purpose of this study was to investigate the computerized analyses of breast lesions in ultrasonographic (US) images in order to ultimately aid in the task of discriminating between malignant and benign lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Features related to lesion margin, shape, homogeneity (texture), and posterior acoustic attenuation pattern in US images of the breast were extracted and calculated. The study database contained 184 digitized US images from 58 patients with 78 lesions. Benign lesions were confirmed at biopsy or cyst aspiration or with image interpretation alone; malignant lesions were confirmed at biopsy. Performance of the various individual features and output from linear discriminant analysis in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions was studied by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: At ROC analysis, the feature characterizing the margin yielded Az values (area under the ROC curve) of 0.85 and 0.75 in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions for the entire database and for an "equivocal" database, respectively. The equivocal database contained lesions that had been proved to be benign or malignant at cyst aspiration or biopsy. Linear discriminant analysis round-robin runs yielded Az values of 0.94 and 0.87 in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions for the entire database and for the equivocal database, respectively. CONCLUSION: Computerized analysis of US images has the potential to increase the specificity of breast sonography.     

超声弹性成像与常规超声联合应用在乳腺病灶良恶性鉴别上的价值

目的：探讨超声弹性成像在鉴别乳腺病变良恶性上的价值。材料和方法：对随机来我院检查的400例患者共433个乳腺病灶分别进行常规超声及弹性超声检查，结果与病理对照。结果：常规超声成像和弹性成像在鉴别乳腺病灶良恶性上价值相当（灵敏度、特异度及正确率分别为84．8％、82．8％及83．6％和83．6％、78．2％及80．4％，P〉0．05），但联合应用2种技术灵敏度提高至93．0％，比常规超声检查显著提高（P≤0．01）。结论：超声弹性成像对乳腺恶性病变较敏感，能帮助诊断常规超声较难鉴别的良恶性病变，两者联合应用可进一步提高超声技术的鉴别诊断能力。     

相对造影参数在乳腺肿物良恶性鉴别诊断中的价值

目的利用超声造影技术,探讨相对造影参数在乳腺病灶良恶性鉴别诊断中的价值。方法选用造影剂SonoVue,对34例乳腺病灶进行超声造影(良性14例,恶性20例),应用随机配置的Qontraxt定量分析软件,对病灶及病灶旁组织勾勒感兴趣区,测量其声学定量参数,进一步获得相对造影参数。结果病灶的相对峰值强度、相对达峰时间、相对曲线下面积,良恶性病灶之间差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。病灶的相对曲线尖度,良恶性病灶之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论乳腺良恶性病灶的超声造影灌注模式各有特点。超声造影研究中,应充分重视病灶周围腺体的增强情况,病灶的相对造影参数有助于良恶性的鉴别诊断。     

MR动态增强减影技术对乳腺良恶性病灶鉴别的价值

目的:评价MR动态增强减影技术对乳腺良恶性病灶鉴别的价值。方法:收集进行乳腺MR动态增强减影扫描并有明确病理结果的56例67个病灶作为研究对象进行回顾性分析。结果:乳腺良恶性病灶在MR动态增强形态、强化时间-信号强度曲线、强化峰值时间、血管分布形态、腋窝淋巴结五个指标上表现不同。结论:MR动态增强减影技术对乳腺良恶性病灶具有较高的鉴别诊断价值。