Detecting breast cancer in mammographically dense breasts: comparing technetium-99m tetrofosmin mammoscintigraphy and ultrasonography

The aim of our study was to compare the usefulness of technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-TF) mammoscintigraphy and ultrasonography for detecting breast cancer in mammographically dense breasts. This study included 32 female Taiwanese patients with indeterminate mammographic probability of malignancy due to mammographically dense breasts. Both Tc-TF mammoscintigraphy and ultrasonography were performed on each patient. Then, all of the 32 breast masses underwent biopsies or operations to obtain final pathological diagnoses. Based on the final pathological diagnoses, 24 women had breast cancer and eight had benign breast tumors among the 32 patients. Twenty cancers and one benign tumor had positive Tc-TF mammoscintigraphic findings. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83, 88, and 84%, respectively. Twenty-two cancers and five benign tumors had positive ultrasonographic findings. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 92, 38, and 78%, respectively. To detect breast cancer in patients with nondiagnostic mammograms because of mammographically dense breasts, ultrasonography with its higher sensitivity is more suitable for screening breast masses. However, due to its higher specificity, Tc-TF mammoscintigraphy is useful to confirm the ultrasonographic findings.     

Diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography in comparison to conventional full-field digital mammography in a population of women with dense breasts

Background

Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography to compare clinical efficacy of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) and conventional digital mammography (MMG) with histopathology as gold standard in dense breasts.

Patients and methods

A total of 143 breasts of 72 women who underwent CESM and MMG between 2011 and 2014 at Showa University Hospital were analyzed.

Results

129 (90.2 %) of 143 breasts revealed dense breasts on MMG. 58 (40.6 %) of 143 breasts were diagnosed with breast cancer at histopathology. The remaining 85 breasts were diagnosed with benign findings after image assessments and/or core needle biopsy. CESM revealed 8 false-negative cases among 58 breast cancer cases (sensitivity 86.2 %) and 5 false-positive cases (specificity 94.1 %). Accuracy was 90.9 %. Conventional MMG was assessed true positive in 31 of 58 breast cancer cases (sensitivity 53.4 %) and false positive in 12 cases (specificity 85.9 %). Accuracy was 72.7 %. Sensitivity (p < 0.001), specificity (p = 0.016) and accuracy (p < 0.001) were significantly higher on CESM compared to MMG. MMG missed malignancy in 27 breasts. Of these, 25 were dense breasts. Of these 25, 20 (80.0 %) breasts were positive on CESM.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that CESM offers superior clinical performance compared to MMG. Use of CESM may decrease false negatives especially for women with dense breasts.

     

Selective application of routine preoperative axillary ultrasonography reduces costs for invasive breast cancers

Purpose.

Preoperative axillary sonography with fine needle aspiration (FNA) in patients with invasive breast cancer identifies patients with nodal metastasis who can be spared further surgery. Indiscriminate use of the diagnostic modality can increase costs and yield inaccurate results. We evaluate the costs associated with the use of highly sensitive axillary ultrasonography in patients with stage ≥T2 tumors.

Patients and Methods.

We constructed a decision analysis tree using TreeAge Pro 2009 software comparing direct hospital charges between patients with and without routine use of axillary ultrasound. Base case estimates were derived from our institutional data and compared with those derived from the literature. One- and two-way sensitivity analyses were performed to check the validity of our inferences.

Results.

We found that, for the base case estimate with 35% lymph node positivity in stage ≥T2 tumors and sensitivity of the axillary ultrasound set at 86% with a specificity of 40%, the strategy to perform preoperative axillary ultrasound yielded rollback costs of $15,215, compared with $15,940 for surgery plus sentinel lymph node biopsy (cost difference, $725 per patient favoring axillary ultrasound). On two-way sensitivity analysis, the cost benefit for axillary ultrasound was not seen in patients with a low risk for nodal metastasis.

Conclusion.

The adoption of routine preoperative axillary sonography with FNA is a lower-cost strategy than conventional strategies in patients with stage ≥T2 invasive breast cancer.     

Re: selective application of routine preoperative axillary ultrasonography reduces costs for invasive breast cancers

The approach of selective use of axillary ultrasound concentrating on breast cancer patients most likely to benefit from knowing preoperatively that an ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration is cytologically positive is examined.How do we deal with axillary ultrasound assessment of women newly diagnosed with T1 or T2 breast cancer following the publication of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z-0011 (hereafter, Z-11) trial? The Z-11 trial now questions the need for completion axillary dissections in women with early disease and one or two positive sentinel nodes in the setting of breast conservation and postoperative radiotherapy. Traditional practice in many centers has been to commit patients with positive axillary node cytology on ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) to an axillary dissection—avoiding the intervening step of a sentinel node biopsy. An advantage of ultrasound-guided FNA is the positive identification of candidates for neoadjuvant preoperative chemotherapy (stage IIb and III).Turaga et al. [1] have provided us with a rational and thoughtful approach—that of selective use of axillary ultrasound concentrating on the individuals who are most likely to benefit from knowing preoperatively that an ultrasound-guided FNA is cytologically positive. By focusing on T2 patients, axillary ultrasound and FNA assessment of suspicious nodes will help select individuals who can be offered neoadjuvant strategies. Likewise, by eliminating T1 patients from the preoperative assessment, these individuals can proceed with a sentinel node biopsy. In the few who are positive and meet the Z-11 trial entry criteria, radiotherapy without a completion dissection can be applied to control the axilla with less morbidity and effective local control.Turaga et al. [1] have shown a better yield and even demonstrated a cost advantage by selectively applying axillary ultrasound to the T2 patient population. In the post-Z-11 world of axillary staging and assessment, these authors have demonstrated a reasoned approach that will maximize the benefit and limit any potential harm of axillary ultrasound and lymph node FNAs. By focusing on the T2 population, we can effectively stratify our patients, identify candidates for neoadjuvant regimens and trials, have a cost-effective approach, and avoid overassessment of the T1 group. Let''s get on with it!     

超声和X线钼靶在乳腺癌诊断中的应用价值

目的探讨超声和X线钼靶在乳腺癌诊断中的应用价值。方法选取2011年1月至2014年1月间收治的100例乳腺癌患者,均经手术病理证实。对所有患者的超声和X线钼靶诊断资料进行回顾性分析,比较两种方法诊断乳腺癌的敏感度。结果超声诊断乳腺癌的敏感度为86.0%,X线钼靶诊断乳腺癌的敏感度为75.0%,两种方法的敏感度差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两种方法联合诊断敏感度为93.0%,明显大于单独检测,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论联合应用超声和X线钼靶诊断乳腺癌具有较高的临床应用价值。     

Usefulness of technetium-99m tetrofosmin scintimammography to detect breast cancer in mammographically dense breasts

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of techentium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-TF) scintimammography to detect breast cancer in 32 female Taiwanese patients with indeterminate mammograpic probability of malignancy because of mammographyically dense breasts. All breast masses were removed and final histopathological diagnoses were obtained in all cases. The results showed that Tc-TF scintimammography findings were true-positive in 20 cases, false-positive in 1 case, true-negative in seven cases, and false-negative in four cases. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83, 88, and 84%, respectively, for detecting breast cancer in mammographically dense breasts. In conclusion, Tc-TF scintimammography is a useful tool for detecting breast cancer in patients with indeterminate mammograms because of mammographically dense breasts.     

早期乳腺癌的X线摄影与超声诊断价值

目的:探讨乳腺X线摄影、超声、以及乳腺X线摄影和超声联合应用在早期乳腺癌诊断中的价值。方法:收集64 例经术后病理确诊,TNM 分期属0期、I 期的早期乳腺癌患者病历资料,回顾性分析X线和超声单独及联合应用对于早期乳腺癌诊断的价值。结果:X 线摄影及超声单项检查早期乳腺癌的符合率无明显差异(P＞0.05),而联合应用X 线乳腺摄影及超声检查对早期乳腺癌的符合率为 92.2%,优于单项检查的符合率,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论:乳腺X 线摄影及超声联合检查可以提高早期乳腺癌的诊断率。     

Usefulness of thallium-201 SPECT scintimammography to differentiate benign from malignant breast masses in mammographically dense breasts

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of thallium-201 (Tl-201) single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT) scintimammography to differentiate benign from malignant breast masses in 32 female Taiwanese patients with indeterminate mammographic probability of malignancy because of mammographically dense breasts. All breast masses were removed, and final histopathological diagnoses were obtained in all cases. The results showed that thallium-201 SPECT scintimammography findings were true-positive in 22 cases, false-positive in 1 case, true-negative in 7 cases, and false-negative in 2 cases. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 91.7%, 87.5%, and 90.6%, respectively, for detecting breast cancer in mammographically dense breasts. In conclusion, thallium-201 SPECT scintimammography is a useful tool for differentiating benign from malignant breast masses in patients with indeterminate mammograms because of mammographically dense breasts.     

钼靶 X 线摄影联合彩色多普勒超声( CDFI) 检查在乳腺癌中的诊断价值

目的：探讨钼靶X线摄影联合彩色多普勒超声（CDFI）检查对乳腺癌的诊断价值.方法：回顾性分析我院2009年-2012年189例乳腺肿瘤患者的钼靶X线与CDFI检查结果,并与手术病理结果进行比较.结果：189例患者中139例病理证实为乳腺癌,单独应用钼靶X线及CDFI 对乳腺肿瘤诊断符合率分别为 74.6%和68.2%,而联合诊断符合率达 89.4%,明显高于单用任一种检查方法（P＜0.05）,联合诊断乳腺癌的准确率为 92.1 %.对最大径小于 1.0cm的乳腺癌的检出率,单用CDFI、单用钼靶X线摄影和联合检查诊断符合率分别为50.0%、67.7%和82.1%,三者之间的差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.而对于肿瘤最大径大于1.0cm的乳腺癌,三种方法的检出率之间无统计学差异.对于40岁及以上患者,单用CDFI、单用钼靶X线摄影以及两者联合检查其诊断符合率分别为64.7%、81.3%和90.6%,有明显差异,而对于40岁以下患者,三者的诊断符合率分别为80.0%、68.0%和88.0%,三者差异也具有统计学意义.结论：钼靶X摄影联合 CDFI在乳腺癌检查中具备优势,联合应用能明显提高乳腺癌的检出率.     

MRI、钼靶摄影、超声对乳腺癌术前评估的价值及比较

目的:探讨MRI、钼靶摄影、超声对乳腺癌术前评估的价值并进行比较。方法:43例经手术及病理证实的乳腺癌患者,术前均接受乳腺MRI、钼靶摄影及超声检查。将三种诊断方法对乳腺癌的检出率、病变大小、数目及腋窝淋巴结情况与病理结果进行对比。结果:MRI、钼靶摄影、超声对乳腺癌的检出率分别为97.7%、76.8%、81.4%,MRI对乳腺癌检出率明显高于钼靶摄影和超声检查(P<0.05)。三种检查方法对病灶大小评价与病理结果进行相关性分析,相关系数r分别为0.93、0.72、0.86,均具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。对病变数目及腋窝肿大淋巴结的诊断灵敏度、特异度、准确率分别为95.8%、72.0%、83.7%;65.2%、80.8%、73.5%;60.7%、71.4%、65.3%;MRI灵敏度、准确率明显高于钼靶摄影和超声检查(P<0.01)。结论:MRI在乳腺癌检出率、病变大小、数目及腋窝肿大淋巴结评估方面优于钼靶摄影和超声检查。     

超声及钼靶X线对乳腺导管内癌与乳腺浸润性导管癌的诊断价值

目的:探讨乳腺导管内癌（ductal caicinoma in situ,DCIS）与乳腺浸润性导管癌（invasive ductal carcinoma,IDC）的超声及钼靶X线影像特征差异。方法:回顾性分析160例患者（包括62例DCIS患者及98例IDC患者）的超声及钼靶X线资料。结果:161个乳腺病灶中,有62个DCIS病灶（DCIS组）及99个IDC病灶（IDC组）。超声对IDC组病灶的检出率明显高于DCIS组,两组间的检出率有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;两组间病灶超声表现中形状、边界、边缘特征及血流信号差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。钼靶X线在两组病灶检出率差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;两组间病灶钼靶X线表现形状及边缘特征的例数差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。对于DCIS组,超声及钼靶X线病灶的检出率差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;在病灶边缘及乳腺腺体内钙化检出率这些方面,两种方法有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论:乳腺钼靶X线对DCIS腺体内钙化灶诊断率较高,乳腺超声对DCIS病灶检出、病灶边缘特征显示具有诊断优势。     

What ultrasonography can tell in breast masses that mammography and physical examination cannot

The capability of ultrasonography to provide additional information to the physical and mammographic examination for therapeutic decision was investigated in a prospective study. Four hundred patients with palpable or radiologic breast masses requiring surgical biopsy were studied. The high resolution and accuracy of ultrasonography vs. mammography in the diagnosis of cystic masses (96%, 63/66 vs. 42%, 20/48) (p less than 0.001) and fibrocystic masses (84%, 131/156 vs. 74%, 80/108) (p less than 0.10), led to a substantial reduction of surgical biopsies in favor of aspiration or follow-up policy, particularly when physical examination and mammography were inconclusive. Breast cancers were accurately diagnosed in 73% (88/120) by sonography and 84% (98/116) by mammography (p greater than 0.10). The major limitation of ultrasonography was noticed in the diagnosis of minimal breast cancer (23%, 5/21) due to its inability to visualize microcalcifications. Our study validates the importance of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and therapeutic decision of cystic and fibrocystic masses but cannot substitute mammography in early detection of breast carcinoma.     

diagnostic ultrasonography and mammography for invasive and noninvasive breast cancer in women aged 30 to 39 years

PURPOSE: To confirm which modality, ultrasonography (US) or mammography (MMG), is useful to detect breast cancer in women aged 30 to 39 years, and to compare the sensitivity and findings of these two modalities for invasive carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the diagnostic setting. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the sensitivity and findings of these two modalities in 165 patients aged 30 to 39 years, who underwent surgery at the Cancer Institute Hospital between 2001 and 2003. US or MMG were performed after obtaining information on the other modalities previously used and physical examination. The abnormal findings of US were defined as mass lesions and focal hypoechoic areas due to breast cancer. The abnormal findings of MMG were defined as category 3 to 5 (Japanese Mammography Guidelines) masses, calcifications, and other findings due to cancer. RESULTS: Of 165 patients, 147 patients (89%) mammographically showed dense breasts. Histologically, 146 (88%) were invasive carcinomas and 19 (12%) were DCIS. In all carcinomas, the sensitivity of US (95%) was higher than that of MMG (85%). The sensitivity of US for invasive carcinoma (99%) was higher than that of MMG (85%). On the other hand, the sensitivity of MMG for DCIS (89%) was much higher than that of US (68%). CONCLUSIONS: US is more sensitive to detect breast cancers than MMG in this age range, especially for invasive carcinoma. On the other hand, MMG is useful for detecting DCIS, especially when it manifests with microcalcifications.     

Diagnostic mammography and ultrasonography for palpable and nonpalpable breast cancer in women aged 30 to 39 years

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the tumor size of breast cancer by palpation and the sensitivity of mammography (MMG) and ultrasonography (US), and which modality can detect nonpalpable breast cancer in women aged 30 to 39 years. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the tumor size by palpation, breast density, and the sensitivity of MMG and US in 165 patients aged 30 to 39 years. Palpation, US, and MMG were performed with prior knowledge of the results of other modalities. The tumor size on palpation were classified into Tnp; nonpalpable, T1p; 2 cm or less, T2p; more than 2 cm, but not more than 5 cm, and T3p; more than 5 cm. RESULTS: Of 165 patients, 147 patients (89%) showed mammographically dense breasts. Of 165 cancers, 14 (8%) were Tnp, 40 (24%) were T1p, 82 (50%) were T2p, and 29 (18%) were T3p. The sensitivity of MMG was 57% (8 of 14) for Tnp, 78% (31 of 40) for T1p, 90% (74 of 82) for T2p, and 97% (28 of 29) for T3p. The sensitivity of US was 43% (6 of 14) for Tnp and 100% for palpable cancers. Of 14 nonpalpable cancers, 4 (29%), 4 (29%), and 2 (14%) could be detected by only MMG, bloody nipple discharge, and US. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of MMG depends on the tumor size on palpation in this age range. MMG fails to detect relatively large palpable cancers. On the other hand, US can detect all palpable cancers. However, the sensitivity of US declines for nonpalpable cancers. For the detection of nonpalpable cancers, MMG, US, and nipple discharge are complementary modalities.     

高频超声与钼靶片对35岁以下女性乳腺癌临床诊断价值的探讨

目的探讨高频超声与钼靶片诊断35岁以下女性乳腺癌的相关临床特征及其意义。方法回顾性分析1999年1月至2006年3月收治的35岁以下女性乳腺癌的高频超声、钼靶片与病理诊断符合率,对诊断乳腺癌的雌孕激素受体状态及C-erbB-2表达进行相关分析。结果35岁以下青年乳腺癌超声诊断与病理诊断符合率为66.7%,钼靶片诊断符合率为68.2%,超声与钼靶片联合诊断符合率为71.1%。在超声、钼靶、联合诊断乳腺癌患者中ER阳性表达率分别为61.5%、61.5%和60.8%,PR阳性表达率分别为59.0%、65.4%和69.6%,C-erbB-2表达率分别为76.5%、87.0%和85.0%。结论超声与钼靶对35岁以下乳腺癌诊断率差异无显著性,联合诊断对提高诊断率意义不大。超声、钼靶诊断率与ER、PR、C-erbB-2阳性表达无显著性相关。     

乳腺浸润性导管癌的超声表现与钼靶X线摄影对比研究

目的探讨超声对乳腺浸润性导管癌的诊断价值.方法对55例经病理证实的乳腺浸润性导管癌患者,分析其超声表现,并与钼靶X线比较.结果超声显示肿块阴影54例(98.2％),形态不规则,无包膜,边缘蟹足状36例(占65.4％),内部回声不均匀41例(74.5％),后方伴声衰减9例(16％),钙化影4例(7.3％),35例血流丰富(63.6％).超声诊断准确率89.1％,误诊率10.9％,钼靶摄影诊断准确率94.5％,误诊率5.5％.结论超声对乳腺导管癌诊断有很大价值,且与钼靶X线结合应用,可提高乳腺浸润性导管癌的诊断准确率.     

超声、钼靶摄影与近红外扫描对乳腺肿瘤诊断的比较

目的　比较超声、钼靶摄影与近红外扫描对乳腺肿瘤的诊断 ,明确各自优势 ,提高乳腺肿瘤的诊断水平。方法　 75 0例经手术、病理证实的乳腺疾病 ,其中炎症 12例 ,增生性和瘤样病变 2 2 1例 ,良性肿瘤 2 0 9例 ,恶性肿瘤 30 8例。术前经超声检查 731例 ,钼靶检查 6 0 2例 ,近红外扫描 6 2 7例。结果　超声、钼靶、近红外对乳腺疾病的检出率分别为 93.9%、5 6 .5 %、81.5 % ,三者差别显著。诊断正确率 ,除炎症三者相近 ;恶性肿瘤超声与近红外相近 ,其它均为超声高于近红外 ,近红外高于钼靶。误诊率三者相近。结论　无论良恶性乳腺疾病的诊断 ,超声优于钼靶和近红外。但其各有优缺点 ,应具体分析 ,综合应用。     

The contribution of routine follow-up mammography to an early detection of asynchronous contralateral breast cancer.

The role of routine mammography was assessed in the early detection of asynchronous contralateral breast cancer (ACBC). The breast cancer patient populations of two cities, Nijmegen and Eindhoven, The Netherlands, which were subjected to a well-defined follow-up program, were compared. The program consisted of regular physical examination and annual mammography in Nijmegen and physical examination only in Eindhoven. From 1975 until 1987, 24 ACBC patients were detected within a group of 880 breast cancer patients in Nijmegen (3%) and, from 1971 until 1984, 14 ACBC patients within a group of 411 patients in Eindhoven (3%). In Nijmegen, eight of the 23 evaluable patients (35%) had a contralateral tumor with a histologic size smaller than 10 mm or an in situ carcinoma, compared with one of the 14 of the Eindhoven patients (7%), whereas 18 of the 24 (75%) versus eight of the 14 patients (57%) were node-negative. Thus annual mammography is very likely a contribution in the early detection of contralateral breast cancer as compared with follow-up by regular physical examination only.