钼靶X线和MRI对乳腺肿块良恶性诊断效能及术前评估研究

目的 探讨钼靶X线和MRI对乳腺肿块良恶性的诊断效能及术前评估。方法 回顾性选取2019年1月至2022年12月本院就诊的82例女性乳腺肿块患者作为研究对象。所有患者均行钼靶X线和MRI检查，以病理结果为金标准，评估乳腺肿块良恶性的诊断效能及术前评估。结果 总计患者82例，病灶94个；其中良性病变患者47例，病灶56个；恶性病变患者35例，病灶38个。钼靶X线检查诊断乳腺肿块良恶性的灵敏度、准确度、特异度为78.95%、82.98%、85.71%,Kappa值为0.598;MRI检查诊断乳腺肿块良恶性的灵敏度、准确度、特异度为87.50%、91.49%、94.44%,Kappa值为0.796，良性病灶时间信号曲线（TIC）类型主要是Ⅲ型，恶性病变TIC类型多为Ⅰ型或Ⅱ型；联合检查诊断乳腺肿块良恶性的灵敏度、准确度、特异度为97.37%、97.87%、98.21%,Kappa值为0.908。MRI、联合诊断的灵敏度、准确度、特异度均高于钼靶X线（P均<0.05），且联合检查曲线下面积明显大于钼靶X线、MRI检查（Z=6.568、5.1113,P均<0.05）。钼靶X线评估的肿...     

X线钼靶与B超对乳腺良恶性病变诊断的ROC曲线分析

目的:探讨X线钼靶与B超对乳腺良恶性病变诊断价值,加强乳腺癌的预防及提高对乳腺癌患者的早期诊断和治疗。方法:乳腺良恶性病变患者120例分别进行X线钼靶与B超检查,对诊断效果进行ROC曲线分析。结果:钼靶X线诊断的敏感性为96.8%,特异性为82.8%;B超诊断的敏感性与特异性为98.6%和98.0%。B超诊断的特异性高于X线诊断(P<0.05)。ROC曲线分析显示X线钼靶和B超用于乳腺良性病变诊断无显著统计学意义(P>0.05),对乳腺癌的诊断效果差异有统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:钼靶X线难以显示致密腺体内的病灶,而B超不受干扰可进行多方位扫查的优点恰好弥补了钼靶X线的不足,使得其对于乳腺癌诊断的特异性加强。     

钼靶X线对乳腺良恶性病变诊断的临床意义

目的 评价钼靶X线检查对乳腺良恶性病变诊断的临床意义.方法 对100例临床可触及乳腺肿块患者进行钼靶X线检查,分析病变的X线征象,并与病理结果 进行对照.结果 100例患者中钼靶X线诊断为乳腺癌40例,良性病变60例.术后病理证实乳腺癌46例,良性病变54例.钼靶X线诊断正确率为87%.结论 乳腺钼靶X线检查是诊断和鉴别乳腺良恶性肿瘤首选有效的影像学方法.     

超声弹性成像及钼靶X线诊断乳腺疾病价值对比研究

目的 探讨超声弹性成像及钼靶X线诊断乳腺疾病的价值。方法 2009年3月至2010年8月,山东省滨州市邹平计划生育妇幼保健服务中心对65例女性病人共72个病灶术前行超声弹性成像及钼靶X线检查,以手术病理为诊断标准,对比分析两者诊断乳腺疾病的准确性。结果 病理诊断良性53个病灶,恶性19个病灶。超声弹性成像诊断乳腺恶性病变的灵敏度、特异度和约登指数分别为84.2%、96.2%、0.804。钼靶X线诊断乳腺恶性病变的灵敏度、特异度和约登指数分别为68.4%、92.4%、0.608。结论 超声弹性成像诊断乳腺病变的准确性高于钼靶X线,两者结合可提高乳腺恶性病变诊断的准确性。     

彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像与钼靶X线诊断乳腺疾病的价值

目的分析比较彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像与钼靶X线诊断乳腺疾病的价值。方法将2016-02—2017-02间在河南科技大学第一附属医院就诊的264例(288个病灶)乳腺疾病患者,分别使用彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像、钼靶X线和联合的方法进行诊断。以病理学检查结果为金标准,比较其诊断结果。结果 (1)病理诊断经288个病灶中有173例患者为良性,115例患者为恶性。(2)彩色多普勒超声的敏感性为84.3%(97/115),特异性为83.2%(144/173),准确性为83.7%(241/288)。钼靶X线诊断的敏感性为79.13%(91/115),特异性为76.3%(132/173),准确性为77.4%(223/288)。三者联合应用的敏感性为93.8%(107/114),特异性为93.0%(107/115),准确性为92.0%(265/288)。联合检查结果明显优于超声弹性成像、彩色多普勒及钼靶X线检查,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像与钼靶X线诊断乳腺疾病各有优势及不足。超声的敏感性比较好,超声弹性成像适用于检测弹性系数比较大的肿块,钼靶X线虽然对钙化有较高的敏感性,但是在诊断致密性乳腺及小乳房时敏感性比较差。三种方法联合检查,可有效提高乳腺疾病诊断的敏感性、特异性和准确性。     

超声联合钼靶X线对乳腺小结节病灶诊断价值对比分析

目的:探讨超声联合钼靶X线对乳腺小结节病灶诊断价值.方法:32例女性乳腺癌患者均行手术并经病理学证实,采用彩色超声检查和铝靶X线检查对乳腺肿块进行诊断与鉴别诊断.结果:钼靶和超声的总体敏感性分别为71.9%,87.5%,超声诊断的敏感性明显好于钼靶X线诊断(P<0.05);同时两种方法联合使敏感性达96.9%,而漏诊率降低至3.1%.结论:乳腺超声成像和钼靶X线摄影联合应用可提高对乳腺小结节病灶诊断的敏感性,值得临床推广.     

X线钼靶摄影与超声诊断乳腺微钙化灶的对比研究

目的：比较X线钼靶摄影与超声在乳腺微钙化灶诊断中的价值。方法：收集伴随微钙化灶（经X线钼靶摄影确诊）的乳腺良性、恶性疾病患者117例,分析超声对乳腺微钙化的检出率;比较X线钼靶摄影与超声检查对乳腺微钙化灶病例诊断的敏感性、特异性及准确性。结果：乳腺微钙化的超声检出率为66.7%,其中乳腺恶性病灶的微钙化超声检出率为87.5%,乳腺良性病变的微钙化灶超声检出率为33.3%,超声诊断乳腺微钙化灶病例的敏感性、特异性和准确性分别为69.4%、86.7%和76.1%,X线钼靶摄影分别为75.0%、73.3%、74.3%,两者联合应用为90.2%、91.1%、90.5%。结论：X线钼靶摄影与超声相比,前者具有较高的敏感性,后者具有较高的特异性,而两者联合应用可提高对乳腺微钙化灶病例诊断的准确率,对于乳腺癌的早期诊断具有较高的临床实用价值。     

超声ABVS对乳腺肿物的诊断价值研究

目的研究超声ABVS(自动乳腺全容积成像)检查对乳腺肿块的诊断价值及鉴别良恶性的作用。方法本研究选取2017年5月至2019年5月本院收治的乳腺肿块患者共200例,所有患者均行超声ABVS检查和X线钼靶检查。结果所有患者乳腺肿块中呈恶性者81例,良性者119例。81例乳房恶性肿块中,64例为浸润性乳腺癌,14例为导管原位癌,3例为黏液癌;119例乳房良性肿块中,58例为纤维腺瘤,32例为纤维囊性乳腺病,19例为导管内乳头状瘤,2例为硬化性腺病,6例为浆细胞性乳腺炎,1例为叶状肿瘤,1例为脂肪坏死结节。乳房肿块ABVS检出率大于X线钼靶检查(χ~2=70439,P0.05),超声ABVS检查中,良恶性肿块汇聚征出现率具有统计学意义(χ~2=25.8631,P0.05)。超声ABVS检查的敏感度为86.42%,特异性为80.67%,准确率为83.0%,阳性预测值为75.26%,阴性预测值为82.05%;X线钼靶检查敏感度为64.20%,特异性为71.43%,准确率为68.50%,阳性预测值为60.47%,阴性预测值为74.56%,超声ABVS检查各项指标均优于X线钼靶,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论超声ABVS检查在乳腺肿块检出率及良恶性鉴别诊断方面,优势较X线钼靶更为明显,而两种检查联合应用可以有效提高准确率及敏感度,适合临床治疗人员选择应用。     

乳腺钼靶X线三维立体定位系统引导下导丝定位活检的临床应用

目的探讨乳腺钼靶X线三维立体定位系统引导下导丝定位手术活检在临床不能触及肿块的乳腺病变中的价值及可行性。 方法回顾性研究2013年4月至2015年10月间收治的乳腺钼靶X线异常女性患者67例,对临床不能触及的乳腺病灶行导丝定位手术活检及病理检查。 结果67例病灶均一次定位成功,发现乳腺癌17例（25.4%）,癌前病变（导管上皮非典型增生及导管内乳头状瘤）13例（19.4%）,其他良性病变37例（55.2%）。影像表现为微钙化灶的46例病例中乳腺恶性病变共16例（34.8%）,癌前病变8例（17.4%）,其他良性病变22例（47.8%）;非钙化组的21例病例中良性病变20例（95.2%）,恶性病变1例（4.8%）。与影像表现为非钙化组比较,对于临床不能触及的乳腺病灶,乳腺钼靶X线影像表现为微钙化时乳腺癌检出率更高（χ²=5.369,P=0.021）。 结论钼靶X线三维立体定位系统引导下导丝定位活检可以发现容易漏诊的早期乳腺癌及癌前病变,该方法简便、准确,值得推广。     

不同临床及影像学特征对良恶性乳头溢液疾病鉴别诊断价值分析

目的 探讨不同临床及影像学特征对良性及恶性乳头溢液疾病的诊断价值。 方法 回顾性分析2011年1月至2016年2月上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院因乳头溢液行手术治疗的233例病人的临床资料。乳腺癌33例（14.2%）,乳腺良性疾病200例（85.8%）。分析不同临床及影像学特征病人良性及恶性乳头溢液的检出率,计算乳腺X线摄影、乳腺超声、乳腺MRI及联合检查对乳腺癌诊断的灵敏度。 结果 血性溢液（P=0.008）、乳腺X线摄影伴可疑恶性钙化（P<0.001）、MRI表现为段样强化（P=0.003）、流出型时间-信号强度曲线（P=0.023）的病人乳腺癌检出率明显增高,差异有统计学意义。乳腺X线摄影对恶性乳头溢液诊断的灵敏度较低（57.6%）,劣于超声检查（87.9%,P=0.012）及MRI检查（93.9%,P=0.001）。乳腺X线摄影联合超声或MRI诊断的灵敏度分别为90.9%及100.0%,显著高于单用乳腺X线检查（P=0.004,P<0.001）。结论 对于不伴肿块的乳头溢液,血性溢液、乳腺X线摄影伴可疑恶性钙化、MRI段样强化、时间-信号强度曲线为流出型的病人患乳腺癌的风险较高。乳腺X线摄影对乳头溢液潜在恶性病变的检出率较低,联合超声或MRI检查可提高检出率。     

Diagnostic Performance of MR‐guided Vacuum‐Assisted Breast Biopsy: 8 Years of Experience

Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated increased sensitivity over conventional imaging in identifying and characterizing in situ and invasive, multifocal, and multicentric disease. A histologic diagnosis is required for any enhancing lesion displaying suspicious features, especially in the presence of lower and often variable reported specificity values. Breast MRI findings occult on mammography and ultrasound should undergo an MR‐guided biopsy. We retrospectively evaluate our 8 years’ experience with this procedure. Our study included 259 lesions in 255 consecutive patients referred for MR‐guided breast biopsy. MRI screening of women at a high risk for developing breast cancer accounted for 84 lesions, 54 lesions were detected on MRI staging for multifocal and multicentric disease, and 115 were incidental findings or lesions that presented diagnosis related issues on conventional imaging. Six procedures were cancelled due to lack of visualization. MR‐guided breast biopsy was performed for 100 mass and 153 nonmass enhancements. Pathology results were classified into benign (113 lesions), high risk (47 lesions), and malignant (40 ductal carcinoma in situ, 38 invasive ductal carcinoma, 15 invasive lobular carcinoma). Subsequent surgery for high risk and malignant findings revealed an underestimation rate of 34% (16/47) for high risk lesions and of 7.5% for ductal carcinoma in situ (3/40). The overall positive predictive value (PPV) was calculated at 43.1% (33.3% for high‐risk women, 70.3% for cancer staging, and 37.4% for incidental/undetermined lesions). The PPV was higher for mass (57%) versus nonmass enhancements (34%). MR‐guided breast biopsy proved to be a reliable procedure for the diagnosis and management of occult breast MRI findings, or lesions that preclude biopsy under conventional guidance. The PPV displayed significant variation between patient subgroups, correlating higher values with a higher associated breast cancer prevalence.     

数字化乳腺摄影联合超声与MRI对乳腺良、恶性疾病诊断的对照观察

目的评价数字化乳腺摄影联合超声与MRI在乳腺良恶性疾病诊断中的意义及临床应用价值。方法对105例乳腺疾病患者的数字化乳腺摄影联合超声诊断结果与MRI诊断结果进行回顾性分析。结果 105例患者共110个病灶,其中恶性62个,良性48个。所有病灶均被病理证实。数字化乳腺摄影联合超声对乳腺恶性病变的诊断敏感度、特异度分别为90.32%（56/62）、91.67%（44/48）;MRI对乳腺恶性病变的诊断敏感度、特异度分别为91.94%（57/62）、87.50%（42/48）。结论数字化乳腺摄影联合超声检查诊断准确性高,适用于乳腺疾病的常规检查;MRI空间分辨力及组织分辨力高,适用于前二者检查难以定性的病变及乳腺癌的术前评估。     

Clinical experience with 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography in patients with breast microcalcifications

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography can improve the diagnostic value of mammography for the differentiation of benign and malignant breast microcalcifications. In 41 women presenting 45 clusters of microcalcifications, a 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography was performed before open biopsy. There were 24 malignant lesions (53%). The sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography were 58.3% and 81%, and the positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were 78% and 63%, respectively. SE and PPV increased for lesions over 10 mm and for the younger patients (under 50 years). No correlation was found between true positive uptake and breast cancer invasiveness: 69% (9/13) for invasive lesions and 45% (5/11) for noninvasive lesions (P = 0.48). 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography was more often positive in high grade than in low- or intermediate-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (P = 0.03). The results were analysed according to the morphologic aspect of the microcalcifications. 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography could not be used for routine evaluation of all the microcalcifications detected by mammography.     

Outcome of men presenting with clinical breast problems: the role of mammography and ultrasound

The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of men presenting with clinical breast problems for breast imaging and to evaluate the role of mammography and ultrasound in the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast problems. We retrospectively reviewed clinical, radiographic, and pathologic records of 165 consecutive symptomatic men presenting to Breast Imaging over a 4 year period. We assessed the clinical indication for referral, mammographic findings, sonographic findings, histologic results, and clinical outcomes. Patients ranged in age from 22 to 96 years. Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4 and 5 mammograms and solid sonographic masses were considered suspicious for malignancy. Six of 165 men (4%) had primary breast carcinoma, which were mammographically suspicious in all 6 (100%). Five were invasive ductal carcinoma and one was ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Of 164 mammograms, 20 (12%) were suspicious. Six were cancer and 14 were benign. Clinical follow-up for 2 years or biopsy results were available for 138 of the 165 men (84%). Twelve with benign mammographic findings had benign biopsies. All men with benign mammography not undergoing biopsy were cancer free. Sensitivity for cancer detection (mammography) was 100% and specificity was 90%. Positive predictive value (mammography) was 32% (6 of 19) and the negative predictive value was 100%. Sonography was performed in 68 of the 165 men (41%). Three of three cancers (100%) were solid sonographic masses. There were 9 of 68 false-positive examinations (13%). Sensitivity and negative predictive value for cancer detection (ultrasound) was 100% and specificity was 74%. The most common clinical indication for referral was mass/thickening (56%). Mammography had excellent sensitivity and specificity for breast cancer detection and should be included as the initial imaging examination of men with clinical breast problems. The negative predictive value of 100% for mammography suggests that mammograms read as normal or negative need no further examination if the clinical findings are not suspicious. A normal ultrasound in these men confirms the negative predictive value of a normal mammogram.     

Borderline breast lesions diagnosed at core needle biopsy: can magnetic resonance mammography rule out associated malignancy? Preliminary results based on 79 surgically excised lesions

The purpose of this study is to assess whether magnetic resonance mammography (MRM) can exclude associated malignancy in case of diagnosis of borderline breast lesions (B3) at core needle biopsy (CNB). Retrospective analysis of MRM findings of 79 borderline breast lesions (26 benign papillomas, 29 radial sclerosing lesions, 6 atypical ductal hyperplasias, 18 lobular neoplasias) diagnosed at CNB was performed. Lesions were classified as "non-suspicious" or "suspicious" according to Fischer score. These findings were compared to the results of histological analysis of the excisional specimens. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of MRM in predicting the presence of malignancy were calculated. Out of 24 (30.4%) lesions classified as "suspicious", 8 (33.3%) proved to be malignant and 16 (66.7%) benign. Among the 55 (69.6%) "non-suspicious" lesions, only 1 (1.8%) was malignant (low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ), while the remaining 54 (98.2%) proved to be benign. MRM sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 88.9%, 77.1%, 33.3%, and 98.2%, respectively. When a borderline lesion is diagnosed on CNB, in case of mild or no enhancement at MRM, follow-up rather than excisional biopsy might be prompted.     

Radial scar and carcinoma of the breast: microscopic findings in 32 cases

We retrospectively reviewed the microscopic findings in 32 histologically confirmed radial scars in 31 women diagnosed in our unit during 1994–1998. The median age at diagnosis was 53 years (range 47–63 years). Thirty–one (97%) of 32 lesions presented as screen detected mammographic abnormalities (28 stellate lesions, 2 microcalcifications and only 1 architectural distortion). One lesion presented as a palpable breast mass. Stereotactic or ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed in 28 cases. Cytological analysis of FNAs revealed malignant cells (C5) in 8 (29%) cases, highly suspicious cells (C4) in 3 (11%) cases, atypical benign cells (C3) in 7 (25%) cases and benign epithelial cells (C2) in 10 (35%) cases.All non-palpable lesions were surgically excised following wire localization. Histological examination of the breast specimens (mean WEIGHT = 16 g) demonstrated, in addition to a radial scar, 6 invasive carcinomas (2 infiltrating ductal, 2 tubular, 1 mixed ductal/lobular and 1 secretory carcinoma) and 4 ductal carcinoma in situ lesions (2 high grade, 1 high grade with micro-invasion and 1 low grade) arising in the radial scar. Of the remaining cases the radial scar was associated with atypical epithelial hyperplasia in 2 cases and regular epithelial hyperplasia in 17 cases (4 florid and 13 mild to moderate). In the 10 cases associated with malignancy, 9 had FNAC and was reported as malignant (C5) in 6 (67%) cases, highly suspicious (C4) in 2 (22%) cases and atypical (C3) in 1 (11%). False positive FNAC (C5) occurred in two patients, one of whom presented with pleomorphic microcalcifications suggestive of ductal carcinoma in situ. This patient was treated with a wire guided segmental mastectomy. All invasive tumours were less than 20 mm in size (T1) and of these 4 were grade I and 2 were grade II. Axillary dissection was performed in 4 patients none of whom had axillary node metastases.Our study demonstrates a significant incidence of malignancy associated with radial scars (31%) suggesting that radial scars may be premalignant lesions. This is supported by detecting various stages of mammary carcinogenesis (atypical epithelial hyperplasia, ductal carcinoma in situ, and early invasive malignancy) in these lesions. Fine needle aspiration cytology seems to be unreliable in the diagnosis of radial scar associated malignancy (67% sensitivity and 91% specificity). Stellate lesions, therefore, should be excised to obtain an histological diagnosis regardless of cytological findings. Further studies examining the biology of radial scars are required.     

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??Value analysis of different clinical and imaging features in the diagnosis of benign and malignant nipple discharge HUANG Jia-hui??CHEN Xiao-song, WU Jia-yi, et al. Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
Corresponding author: SHEN Kun-wei, E-mail: kwshen@medmail.com.cn
Abstract Objective To analyze the value of different clinical and imaging features in the diagnosis of benign and malignant nipple discharge. Methods The clinical data of 233 patients treated with surgery for nipple discharge from January 2011 to February 2016 in Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 233 cases without palpable mass were enrolled in the analysis. Thirty-three patients (14.2%) were diagnosed as breast cancer, and the other 200 patients (85.8%) were diagnosed as benign disease. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and their combination in predicting malignant disease were calculated. Results Patients with bloody nipple discharge (P=0.008), with suspicious calcification on mammography (P<0.001)??with segmental enhancement (P=0.003) or with washout-pattern kinetic curve (P=0.023) on MRI had higher risk of breast cancer. The sensitivity of mammography in diagnosing breast cancer was 57.6%, significantly lower than that of ultrasound (87.9%,P=0.012) and MRI (93.9%??P=0.001). The sensitivity of mammography combined with ultrasound or with MRI was 90.9% and 100% respectively, significantly higher than that of mammography alone (P=0.004, P<0.001) .Conclusion Bloody nipple discharge, with suspicious calcification on mammography, with segmental or with washout-pattern kinetic curve on MRI are risk factors for predicting breast cancer in patients with nipple discharge without palpable disease. The sensitivity of breast cancer can be elevated with ultrasound or MRI comparing with mammography alone.     

Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of fine-wire localization biopsy for impalpable breast cancer.

During the first 2 years (July 1989 to July 1991) of the Avon Breast Screening Service, fine-wire localization biopsy was indicated in 213 impalpable breast lesions. A total of 144 lesions were benign and 69 malignant. Only four of 213 lesions (1.9 per cent) were not excised at the first localization. Factors influencing reoperation in the 69 patients with malignant impalpable lesions were examined. There was a significant association (P < 0.001) between parenchymal disturbances on mammography and invasive carcinoma, and between non-invasive carcinoma and microcalcification (P < 0.001). In 31 patients the localization biopsy was the only surgical procedure. Thirty-eight patients required further surgery: 12 underwent further local excision and 26 mastectomy. Reoperation was more frequent in patients with calcification than in those with parenchymal disturbance (P < 0.001). The most frequent indications for mastectomy were inadequate excision of widespread comedo ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma combined with extensive ductal carcinoma in situ. Fine-wire localization biopsy was a combined therapeutic and diagnostic procedure in 31 of 69 women with impalpable screen-detected lesions. The majority of patients required further surgery because radiological abnormalities underestimated the extent of disease.     

The use of stereotaxic cytology in the diagnosis of nonpalpable breast lesions. Our experience]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The increasingly frequent use of mammography for the early diagnosis of breast cancer and the consequent identification of mammary lesions at a preclinical stage raises the fundamental problem of the differential diagnosis between non-suspected non-palpable lesions (NPL) which can therefore be monitored over time and suspected NPL or definite carcinoma requiring histological confirmation and surgical biopsy. The diagnostic accuracy of mammography alone is not sufficiently high to differentiate benign lesions from malignant or strongly suspected ones. The use of surgical biopsy in the event of suspected NPL could be significantly reduced by the use of stereotaxic cytology which would improve the diagnostic accuracy of mammography. METHODS: The study refers to 72 suspected NPL undergoing surgical biopsy after having performed stereotaxic cytology on a sample taken with a dedicated mammographic device (Mammotest-TRC). RESULTS: The rate of inadequate samples for correct cytological evaluation was 16.1%. Of the 72 NPL undergoing surgical biopsy, 40 (55.5%) were found to be carcinomas and 32 (44.5%) were benign lesions. The sensitivities of mammography alone and cytology alone in identifying infraclinical breast carcinoma were respectively 0.85 and 0.95. If the results of the two methods were evaluated together, the level of sensitivity was 0.98. CONCLUSIONS: The use of stereotaxic cytology enables a marked improvement to be achieved in the diagnostic accuracy of mammography for the identification of suspected NPL to undergo surgical biopsy, notably reducing the cost of biopsy (number of benign lesions for each carcinoma diagnosed) and consequent discomfort for patients.     

The relative value of fine-needle aspiration and imaging in the preoperative evaluation of parotid masses

BACKGROUND: To establish the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of imaging and fine-needle aspiration (FNA), alone or in combination, in distinguishing benign from malignant histologic findings for parotid lesions. METHODS: Retrospective blinded review of preoperative imaging and FNA studies of parotid masses and comparison with histologic findings after excision. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were identified (13 with CT, 35 with MRI); 23 (48%) of the lesions were malignant, 25 (52%) were benign. MRI, CT, and FNA misclassified 17%, 46%, and 21% of the lesions, respectively. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of these tests for detecting malignant lesions were as follows: MRI (88%,77%,83%), CT (100%,42%, 69%), and FNA (83%,86%,85%) and were not significantly different. Combinations of imaging and FNA were not significantly better in detecting malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging and FNA are comparable in their ability to correctly identify malignant parotid lesions preoperatively. Combining these two modalities yields no advantage in terms of specificity, sensitivity, or accuracy of a malignant diagnosis.