Identification of occult breast lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging with targeted ultrasound: A prospective study

Objective

To verify the capacity of targeted ultrasound (US) to identify additional lesions detected on breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but occult to initial mammography, US and clinical examinations.

Methods

This prospective study included 68 additional relevant breast lesions identified on MRI of 49 patients. As an inclusion criterion, breast US and mammography were required and performed up to six months before MRI. These lesions were then subjected to targeted “second-look” US up to 2 weeks after MRI, performed by one or two radiologists with expertise on breast imaging. Lesions were evaluated according to the established Breast Imaging Report and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon.

Results

Targeted US identified 46/68 (67.6%) lesions revealed by MRI. No significant associations were observed between US identification and the type of lesion, dimensions, morphological characteristics and enhancement pattern according to MRI findings. Targeted US identified 100% of BI-RADS category 5 lesions, 90% of category 4 lesions, and just over 50% of category 3 lesions (p < 0.05). There was significant agreement (p < 0.001) between MRI and US BI-RADS classification for all three categories.

Conclusion

Targeted US can identify a large proportion of the lesions detected by breast MRI, especially those at high risk of malignancy, when performed by a professional with experience in both breast US and MRI.     

Could ultrasonic elastography help the diagnosis of small (≤2 cm) breast cancer with the usage of sonographic BI-RADS classification?

Objectives

To evaluate the additive value of ultrasound strain elastography (USE) to BI-RADS for the differentiation of benign and malignant breast small lesions.

Methods

Breast masses (≤2 cm) with histological diagnosis examined by ultrasonography and USE in our department from April 2004 to December 2009 were reviewed. Conventional B-mode ultrasound findings were classified according to the BI-RADS classification. USE findings were classified according to the 5-point scale. Histological diagnosis was used as the reference standard.

Results

401 (246 benign (61.3%), 155 malignant (38.7%)) from 370 consecutive patients were included in the study. Sensitivity and specificity were 90.3%, 68.3% for BI-RADS; 72.3%, 91.9% for USE. The sensitivity of BI-RADS was better than that of USE (P < 0.05), while the specificity of USE was better than that of BI-RADS (P < 0.05). A revised BI-RADS combined with USE results was proposed in this study. Sensitivity and specificity were 83.9% and 87.8% for revised BI-RADS. The diagnostic performance of revised BI-RADS was better than BI-RADS (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

USE could give BI-RADS some help in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast small lesions. The addition of elastography to BI-RADS could improve the diagnostic performance in <2 cm lesions.     

Does dynamic post contrast MRI of the breast have a role in screening of high risk patients?

Purpose

The aim of this work is to assess the role of dynamic post contrast MRI of the breast as an adjunct to mammography in screening high risk women especially those with dense breast parenchyma.

Patients and methods

A prospective study of 70 high risk cases of breast cancer who are examined by mammography and MRM to evaluate the results.

Results

MRM proved higher sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values.

Conclusion

MRM proved to be of high importance in diagnosis and management of breast cancer.     

Real-time ultrasound elastography: Does it improve B-mode ultrasound characterization of solid breast lesions?

Introduction

Elastography is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that detects tumors based on their stiffness (elasticity). Strain images display the relative stiffness of lesions compared with the stiffness of surrounding tissue as cancerous tumors tend to be many times stiffer than the normal tissue, which “gives” under compression. An image in which different degrees of stiffness show as different shades of light and dark is called an elastogram.

Purpose

To prospectively evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the real-time sonoelastography as compared with B-mode US for distinguishing between benign and malignant solid breast masses. The density of the glandular breast tissue was taken in consideration in addition to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) categories of the lesions, with biopsy results as the reference standard.

Methods

A total of 216 candidate solid lesions (123 benign and 93 malignant) in 188 patients were examined with 2-dimensional ultrasonography, elastosonography and mammography (for 147 patients). The lesions were classified according to the density of the glandular breast tissue into low density group (D1) and a high density group (D2) and were categorized with the BIRADS score. Elastographic images were assigned an elasticity score of 1 to 5 (1–3, benign; 4 and 5, malignant) according to the Multi-Center Team of Study and the strain ratios of the lesions were measured. Concordance between the imaging findings and histopathologic results was documented. Statistical analysis was performed and sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for both elastography and conventional sonography were calculated.

Results

Elastography showed less sensitivity but higher specificity than conventional sonography in the differentiation of benign from malignant solid lesions: B-mode sonography had sensitivity of 85.1%, specificity of 93.9%, a positive predictive value of 92.5% and a negative predictive value of 87.8%, compared with the sensitivity of 80.1%, specificity of 97.1%, a positive predictive value of 96.8% and a negative predictive value of 82.1% for elastography. Elastography was superior to B-mode US in diagnosing solid lesions in the low density group (D1) (96.6% vs. 92.4% specificity) and less in the dense glandular tissue (97.8% vs. 95.9% specificity).

Conclusions

Real-time sonoelastography is an useful technique for the characterization of benign and malignant solid lesions as it increases the diagnostic specificity comparable to B-mode ultrasound, particularly in both ACR 1 and 2, thus reducing the false-positive rate.     

Diagnostic performance of sonoelastographic Tsukuba score and strain ratio in evaluation of breast masses

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the use of strain index ratio by sonoelastography to differentiate between benign and malignant breast lesions.

Real-time tissue elastography combined with BIRADS-US classification system for improving breast lesion evaluation

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to establish the correlation of prospectively interpreted ultrasound elastography (USE) results with American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) assessment and pathologic diagnoses of sonographically visible breast masses and to determine whether USE can improve distinction of benign and malignant lesions.

Patients and methods

Between April 2012 and January 2014, sonoelastography of focal breast lesions was carried out in 410 patients with subsequent histological confirmation. We present data focusing on the sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP) and the positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of sonoelastography. In addition we performed an analysis of the diagnostic performance, expressed by the pretest and posttest probability of disease (POD), in BI-RADS-US 3 or 4 lesions as these categories can imply both malignant and benign lesions and a more precise prediction would be a preferable aim.

Results

Sonoelastography demonstrated an improved SP (89.5%) and an excellent PPV (86.8%) compared to B-mode ultrasound (76.1% and 77.2%). Especially in dense breasts ACR III–IV, the SP was even higher (92.8%). In BI-RADS-US 3 lesions, a suspicious elastogram significantly modified the POD from 8.3% to a posttest POD of 45.5%. In BI-RADS-US 4 lesions, we found a pretest POD of 56.6%. The posttest POD changed significantly to 24.2% with a normal elastogram and to 81.5% with a suspicious elastogram.

Conclusions

Real-time tissue elastography may provide additional characterization of breast lesions, improving specificity, particularly for BIRADS 3 and BIRADS 4 lesions.     

Role of proton MR spectroscopy in the high field magnet (3T) in diagnosis of indeterminate breast masses (BIRDS 3 & 4)

Background

Since 80% of abnormalities found in the breast are benign upon biopsy, New techniques must provide more precise evaluation of these indeterminate lesions .MR spectroscopy is one of the available new techniques on MRI, it refers to the measurement of biochemical compounds in the tissue using specialized sequences.

Purpose

To evaluate the role of MR spectroscopy using the state of the art high field magnet (3 Tesla) as a diagnostic method in indeterminate breast lesions (BIRADS 3 and 4 lesions) aiming at decreasing the un-necessary breast intervention.

Material & method

In this study 240 female patients classified as BIRADS 3 & 4 by sono-mammography (Sono-MX) were examined by MRI using the multiphase dynamic sequence and proton MR spectroscopy using a high field magnet (3 Tesla). Single voxel technique after adequate shimming was used.

Results

Eighty eight cases (35%) were malignant (based on the presence of high choline peak in the spectrum) and 152 cases (65%) were benign (no choline peak). MR-spectroscopy has increased the sensitivity & specificity of Dynamic MR-Mammography for diagnosis of probable lesion from 93.6% (88/94) and 77.9% (152/195) to 96.7% (88/91) and 95.5% (152/159), False positive results were found in 4 cases and False negative results were found in 7 cases.

Conclusion

MR Proton spectroscopy in the high field magnet (3T) offered additional information that increased the sensitivity and specificity of the conventional dynamic MRI in evaluating probable breast lesions and hence reduced the need for unnecessary intervention.     

Characterization of breast lesions with CE-MR multimodal morphological and kinetic analysis: comparison with conventional mammography and high-resolution ultrasound

Objective

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance mammography and comparison with conventional mammography and ultrasonography in cases of women with suspicious breast lesions.

Subjects and methods

Sixty-nine women (age range 39–68 years) with 78 focal breast lesions were examined with mammography, ultrasonography and dynamic magnetic resonance mammography. The lesions were classified according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon of the American College of Radiology for each diagnostic method. Histological reports were available after biopsy or surgical excision of the lesions.

Results

Pathological examination confirmed that 53 lesions were malignant and 25 benign. Conventional mammography estimated a total of 59/78 lesions as malignant with 44 true positive lesions, ultrasonography estimated a total of 50/78 lesions as malignant with 44 true positive lesions and magnetic resonance mammography estimated a total of 66/78 lesions as malignant with 52 true positive lesions. Sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance mammography in the diagnosis of malignancy was 98.1% and 44%, of conventional mammography 83% and 40% and of ultrasonography 83% and 76%. Negative predictive value for magnetic resonance mammography was 91.7%, for ultrasonography 67.9% and for mammography 52.6% for malignancies.

Conclusion

Magnetic resonance mammography has the highest negative predictive value compared with mammography and ultrasound in cases of suspicious breast lesions. The combination of morphologic and enhancement criteria can improve the diagnostic capability of magnetic resonance mammography (MRM) in breast lesion characterization.     

MRI morphological classification of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) correlating with different biological behavior

Objective

To investigate morphological appearance of ductal carcinoma in situ of breast on MRI and to correlate the appearances with some factors.

Methods and materials

MRI feature of 41 DCISs were analyzed retrospectively according to ACR BI-RADS, twenty-three of the 41 were pure DCIS and 18 were DCIS with microinvasion (DCIS-MI). The shape was categorized as mass lesion and non-mass-like lesion. The shape was correlated with histological grade, ER status and expression of e-erbB2 as well as pure DCIS or DCIS-MI.

Results

Percentage of high grade in non-mass-like lesion was higher than that in mass type group, Average size of tumor in group of high grade, negative ER status and positive c-erbB2 expression were larger than that in non-high grade, positive ER status and negative c-erbB2 expression. Comparing pure DCIS and DCIS-MI, high grade in DCIS-MI was significantly higher than that in pure DCIS, Average size of DCIS-MI was larger than that in pure DCIS. Percentage of non-mass-like lesion was higher in DCIS-IM than that in pure DCIS, the difference was marginally significant.

Conclusion

DCIS can be classified as mass type and non-mass-like type morphologically on MRI. The two types reflect different biological behavior.     

Additional diagnostic value of MRI in patients with suspicious breast lesions based on ultrasound

Objective:

Biopsy has long been the standard approach in Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System® (BI-RADS) 4 or BI-RADS 5 (American College of Radiology, Reston, VA) lesions despite a wide variation in reported incidence of malignancy in BI-RADS 4 lesions. This study examined the diagnostic value of breast MRI as well as its ability to decrease unnecessary biopsies in patients with solid breast lesions who had an indication for biopsy.

Methods:

In this retrospective study, 277 breast lesions with a documented histological diagnosis as established by ultrasound-guided biopsy were included. All patients were female, and biopsy was performed owing to a BI-RADS score of 4 or 5 on ultrasonography. In addition, all patients had undergone MRI before biopsy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of MRI in predicting malignancy were calculated.

Results:

When all lesions were analysed, sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV of MRI in detecting malignancy were 94.2%, 56.1%, 90.7% and 68.1%, respectively. When only ultrasonographic BI-RADS 4 lesions are considered, the corresponding figures were as follows: 90.9%, 56.7%, 93.8% and 46.4%, respectively. False-negative rate of MRI for the latter group of lesions was 2.6%. 42% of unnecessary biopsies were avoided in sonographic BI-RADS 4 lesions.

Conclusion:

Despite promising results obtained in this study, dynamic MRI currently does not seem to be effective in ruling out the need for biopsy in the assessment of sonographic BI-RADS 4 lesions. However, advanced MRI techniques may assist in improving possible benefits of MRI in this patient group.According to data from the American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, benign lesions account for nearly 80% of all breast biopsies performed. Although mammography is effective in detecting occult breast cancer, it is also associated with false-positive findings, resulting in the detection of different types of benign tissue in approximately 71–75% of the cases undergoing biopsy owing to suspicious mammography.¹ This usually prompts the clinicians to use ultrasound or MRI to obtain additional information on the character of the lesions. However, this approach has resulted in higher cancer detection yields in females who are at increased risk of breast cancer at the expense of increased false-positivity rates.^2,3Although it may be appropriate to monitor Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System® (BI-RADS) 3 (American College of Radiology, Reston, VA) (probably benign) lesions radiologically owing to their low cancer risk (0.3–1.7%),^4–8 biopsy has long been the standard approach in BI-RADS 4 or BI-RADS 5 lesions. The reported risk of malignancy for BI-RADS 5 lesions is >95%, while a wide variation in reported incidence of malignancy is noted in BI-RADS 4 lesions (from 2% to 95%). Biopsy is recommended for any lesion with an estimated risk of malignancy exceeding 2% based on imaging findings. Therefore, most of the solid lesions visualized through imaging modalities are candidates for biopsy. In recent years, a good deal of research has been devoted to the combined use of different imaging modalities in order to decrease false-positive biopsies and to improve the well-known low specificity of radiological imaging techniques in general and ultrasound in particular. In this regard, breast MRI has been shown to provide a high negative predictive value (NPV) that may help safely exclude a diagnosis of malignancy.^9–12In this study, the diagnostic value of breast MRI as well as its ability to decrease unnecessary biopsies has been examined in a group of patients with solid breast lesions who had an indication for biopsy based on ultrasound results.     

Contralateral lesions detected by preoperative MRI in patients with recently diagnosed breast cancer: application of MR CAD in differentiation of benign and malignant lesions

Objectives

To retrospectively investigate the added value of kinetic features measured by computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) for differentiating benign and malignant contralateral breast lesions detected by preoperative MRI in breast cancer patients.

Methods

This study was approved by our institutional review board, and the requirement for informed consent was waived. Fifty-two breast MR images and their CAD kinetic features were obtained for 52 consecutive breast cancer patients with contralateral breast lesions detected by preoperative MRI and confirmed by excision (23 cancers and 29 benign lesions). Three experienced radiologists independently reviewed the MR images without CAD information and assessed probabilities of malignancy. Four weeks later, these probabilities were reanalyzed using stored CAD data. Diagnostic performances and detection rates of delayed washout components were compared between interpretations without and with CAD for each reader.

Results

Use of MR CAD increased detection of washout component by 2.4- to 3.7-fold than visual assessment for enhancing contralateral lesions, which increased sensitivity (91% vs. 87% in reader 1; 96% vs. 74% in reader 2; 91% vs. 70% in reader 3) and decreased specificity, but statistical significance was only found for decreased specificity in one reader (52% vs. 28%, P = 0.039), and overall performance (areas under ROC curves 0.672 vs. 0.616 in reader 1; 0.624 vs. 0.603 in reader 2; 0.706 vs. 0.590 in reader 3) remained unimproved.

Conclusion

Addition of MR CAD increased sensitivity and decreased specificity than radiologist's assessment alone for differentiating benign and malignant contralateral lesions in breast cancer patients and overall performance remained unimproved.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of primary breast lymphoma

Purpose

Primary lymphomas of the breast (PBNHL) are uncommon. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of these malignancies can be relevant in establishing the extent of disease and planning the appropriate therapeutic strategy, usually represented by chemo- and radiotherapy, rather than surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess MRI features of PBNHL.

Materials and methods

MRI examinations performed on seven patients with known PBNHL were retrospectively evaluated. Lesions were analysed for both morphology and kinetics and classified according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) categories.

Results

The mean MRI maximum diameter was 44 mm (range 12–69). Six lesions showed a mass-like enhancement; one lesion showed a non-mass-like enhancement. For mass-like lesions, kinetic curve assessment of initial rise showed slow enhancement in one lesion, rapid enhancement in four lesions and medium enhancement in one lesion. Assessment of delayed enhancement showed plateau in five lesions and washout in one lesion. MRI BI-RADS categories were distributed as follows: one BI-RADS II, one BI-RADS III, three BI-RADS IV and two BI-RADS V.

Conclusions

MRI features of primary breast lymphomas in this study cohort suggest that the occurrence of a PBNHL should be considered in the presence of large enhancing lesions of the breast, especially if associated with skin thickening. MRI may also have an important role in the assessment of response to therapy and diagnosis of recurrence.     

Real-time MRI navigated US: Role in diagnosis and guided biopsy of incidental breast lesions and axillary lymph nodes detected on breast MRI but not on second look US

Objectives

To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of real-time ultrasound combined with supine-MRI using volume navigation technique (RtMR-US) in diagnosis and biopsy of incidental breast lesions (ILSM) and axillary lymph nodes (LNSM) suspicious of malignancy on contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI).

Materials and methods

Five hundred and seventy-seven women were examined using breast CE-MRI. Those with incidental breast lesions not identified after second-look ultrasound (US) were recruited for RtMR-US. Biopsy was performed in ILSM. Breast lesions were categorized with BI-RADS system and Fisher’ exact test. Axillary lymph nodes morphology was described. To assess efficacy of RtMR-US, diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, detection rate and Kappa index of conventional-US and RtMR-US were calculated.

Results

Forty-three lesions were detected on CE-MRI before navigation. Eighteen were carcinomas and 25 ILSM. Of these, 21 underwent a RtMR-US. Detection rate on RtMR-US (90.7%) was higher than on conventional-US (43%) (p < 0.001). Agreement between both techniques was low (k = 0.138). Twenty ILSM and 2 LNSM were biopsied. Sixty-five percent were benign (100% of BI-RADS3 and 56% of BI-RADS4-5). Diagnostic performance of RtMR-US identifying malignant nodules for overall lesions and for the subgroup of ILSM was respectively: sensitivity 96.3% and 100%, specificity 18.8% and 30.7%, positive predictive value 66.7% and 43.7%, negative predictive value 75% and 100%. In addition RtMR-US enabled biopsy of 2 metastatic lymph nodes.

Conclusions

Real time-US with supine-MRI using a volume navigation technique increases the detection of ILSM. RtMR-US may be used to detect occult breast carcinomas and to assess cancer extension, preventing unnecessary MRI-guided biopsies and sentinel lymph node biopsies. Incidental lesions BI-RADS 3 non-detected on conventional-US are probably benign.     

The negative predictive value of breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging in noncalcified BIRADS 3 lesions

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether breast MRI can provide a sufficient NPV to safely rule out malignancy in mammographic BIRADS 3 lesions.

Materials and methods

In a 3-year consecutive mammographic examination study 176 out of 4391 patients had a lesion classified as BIRADS 3. 76 out of 176 patients underwent breast MRI as diagnostic work-up. Lesions which MRI classified as BIRADS 1 or 2 were considered negative for malignancy. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were calculated.

Results

In 27 out of 76 (35.5%) patients MRI showed no enhancement and was classified as BIRADS 1. In 25 (32.9%) patients MRI showed focal or mass enhancement classified as BIRADS 2. In these 52 (68.4%) patients no malignancy was found during at least 2 years study follow-up. The other 24 (31.6%) patients had a lesion classified as BIRADS ≥3. Thirteen of these 24 lesions were malignant by pathology. MRI had a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 75–100%), specificity of 82.5% (95% CI: 71–91%), PPV of 54.2% (95% CI: 33–74%) and NPV of 100% (95% CI: 93–100%).

Conclusion

Breast MRI should be used in a diagnostic strategy for the work-up of noncalcified BIRADS 3 lesions. Malignancy is ruled out with a very high level of confidence in the majority of patients (68%), herewith avoiding invasive diagnostic procedures.     

Imaging findings in phyllodes tumors of the breast

Purpose

To study the radiological appearance and pathological features of breast phyllodes tumors (PTs), and to enhance the recognition of the tumor.

Materials and methods

Clinical and imaging findings were retrospectively reviewed in 24 women with PTs confirmed by surgical pathology. All of the 24 patients had preoperative MRI and sonography, and 10 had preoperative mammography.

Results

The histologic findings were benign, borderline and malignant PTs in 16.7% (4/24), 45.8% (11/24) and 37.5% (9/24) of cases, respectively. The tumor size (p = 0.001), irregular shape on sonographic imaging (p = 0.039), internal non-enhanced septations (p = 0.009), silt-like changes in enhanced images (p = 0.006) and signal changes from T2-weighted to enhanced images on MRI (p = 0.001) correlated significantly with the histologic grade; the BI-RADS category of the MRI could reflect the PT's histologic grade with a correlation coefficient of 0.440 (p = 0.031). If the category BI-RADS ≥4a was considered to be a suspicious malignant lesion, the diagnostic accuracy of mammography, US and MRI would be 70% (7/10), 62.5% (15/24) and 95.8% (23/24), respectively.

Conclusion

The tumor size and several US and MRI findings can be used to help preoperatively determine the histologic grade of breast PTs. When a patient presents with a progressively enlarging, painless breast mass, MRI should be recommended first.     

Teleradiology with uncompressed digital mammograms: Clinical assessment

Purpose

The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the feasibility of sending uncompressed digital mammograms in a teleradiologic setting without loss of information by comparing image quality, lesion detection, and BI-RADS assessment.

Materials and methods

CDMAM phantoms were sent bidirectionally to two hospitals via the network. For the clinical aspect of the study, 200 patients were selected based on the BI-RAD system: 50% BI-RADS I and II; and 50% BI-RADS IV and V. Two hundred digital mammograms (800 views) were sent to two different institutions via a teleradiology network. Three readers evaluated those 200 mammography studies at institution 1 where the images originated, and in the two other institutions (institutions 2 and 3) where the images were sent. The readers assessed image quality, lesion detection, and BI-RADS classification.

Results

Automatic readout showed that CDMAM image quality was identical before and after transmission. The image quality of the 200 studies (total 600 mammograms) was rated as very good or good in 90–97% before and after transmission. Depending on the institution and the reader, only 2.5–9.5% of all studies were rated as poor. The congruence of the readers with respect to the final BI-RADS assessment ranged from 90% and 91% at institution 1 vs. institution 2, and from 86% to 92% at institution 1 vs. institution 3. The agreement was even higher for conformity of content (BI-RADS I or II and BI-RADS IV or V). Reader agreement in the three different institutions with regard to the detection of masses and calcifications, as well as BI-RADS classification, was very good (κ: 0.775–0.884). Results for interreader agreement were similar.

Conclusion

Uncompressed digital mammograms can be transmitted to different institutions with different workstations, without loss of information. The transmission process does not significantly influence image quality, lesion detection, or BI-RADS rating.     

Radiological evaluation of palpable breast masses during pregnancy and lactation

Objective

To evaluate the role of different imaging modalities in the diagnosis of palpable breast masses during pregnancy and lactation.

Materials and methods

Forty eight patients with palpable breast masses during pregnancy and lactation were evaluated by Ultrasound. When Ultrasound revealed a benign lesion as cyst no further diagnostic evaluation was necessary. On the other hand, when Ultrasound demonstrated a suspicious lesion, mammography, MRI and or biopsy was performed.

Results

Ultrasound showed a well defined lesion with the criteria of benignity categorized as BI-RADS 2 in 25 cases, 20 cases as BI-RADS 3, 2 cases as BI-RADS 4 and one as BI-RADS 5. One of the 2 cases classified as BI-RADS 4 was completely obscured on mammography. According to Goettinger score, MRI categorized 4 lesions in lactating patients as 1 intermediate and 3 suspicious. Tru-cut biopsy and US guided aspiration established the pathological diagnosis in 23 cases.

Conclusion

The majority of pregnancy-associated breast masses are benign; still, a thorough evaluation of any lesion is required, in order to rule out malignancy. US constitutes the most appropriate radiologic method for evaluating breast disorders in women during pregnancy and lactation. US has a greater sensitivity than mammography in this issue. MRI is not recommended during pregnancy and shows limitation in the lactating period. MRI breast should be used for undetermined cases and for staging malignancy. When the imaging results are suspicious and for grading malignancy, biopsy should be performed to obtain a pathologic diagnosis.     

Outcome of breast lesions detected at screening ultrasonography

Objective

To assess the final outcome of breast lesions detected during screening ultrasonography (US) and categorized by BI-RADS final assessment.

Materials and methods

During a 1-year period, 3817 consecutive asymptomatic women with negative findings at both clinical breast examinations and mammography underwent bilateral whole breast US and BI-RADS categories were provided for US-detected breast lesions. The reference standard was a combination of histology and US follow-up (≥12 months), and the final outcomes of 1192 US-detected lesions were analyzed.

Results

Of 904 category 2 lesions, 890 remained stable for 12–60 months. Biopsies of 14 lesions revealed no malignancies (NPV = 100%). Of 247 category 3 lesions, 232 remained stable for 12–60 months. Biopsies of 15 lesions revealed 2 malignancies, which were diagnosed within 6 months of the index examination and were node negative (NPV = 99.2%). Of 41 category 4 lesions, biopsies of 38 lesions revealed 5 malignancies (PPV = 12.2%), and 3 remained stable for 37–51 months. No US-detected lesion was classified as category 5.

Conclusion

The rates of malignancy for US-detected BI-RADS categories 2, 3, and 4 lesions were 0%, 0.8%, and 12.2%, respectively. The final assessment of US BI-RADS categorization showed it to be an appropriate predictor of malignancy for screening US-detected breast lesions.     

Dynamic magnetic resonance angiography for localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in the reoperative neck

Objectives

To evaluate the use of dynamic magnetic resonance angiography for localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in the reoperative neck.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the head-neck MRIs of 30 patients with a history of hyperparathyroidism, prior head-neck surgery, and intraoperative proven adenomas. The protocol included conventional imaging with T2-weighted STIR sequences, T1w axial and coronal prior to and after contrast media administration, and dynamic magnetic resonance angiography. We compared the results from MRI, dynamic magnetic resonance angiography with 99m-Tc-Sestamibi with intraoperative findings as the gold standard.

Results

In conventional MRI 19/30 true positives were detected with a sensitivity and specificity of 63.3% and 100%, respectively. However, by adding dynamic magnetic resonance angiography the detection rate increased to 28/30 true positives. Based on intraoperative findings, the sensitivity and specificity of dynamic magnetic resonance angiography were 93.3% and 100%, respectively. 99m-Tc-Sestamibi detected 24/30 true positives, sensitivity was 80%.

Conclusion

The diagnostic value of MRI including dynamic magnetic resonance angiography is superior to MRI alone and superior to that of 99m-Tc-Sestamibi in the diagnostic workup of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands when compared against intraoperative findings.     

Power Doppler sonography: Anything to add to BI-RADS US in solid breast masses?

Objective

To evaluate the contribution of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) to breast imaging reporting and data system ultrasonography (BI-RADS US) categorization of solid breast masses.

Materials and methods

Totally 94 solid lesions with histopathological results in 49 patients were included in the study. US features of the lesions were classified according to American College of Radiologists (ACR) BI-RADS US lexicon. Lesions were evaluated qualitatively according to their PDUS properties and quantitatively with spectral analysis. Hypervascularity, penetration of vessels into the mass or branching-disordered course and resistivity index values higher than 0.85 were accepted as probable malignant criteria.

Results

Fifty-five of 94 lesions were benign (58.5%), while 39 (41.5%) were malignant histopathologically. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of US and PDUS in the diagnosis of malignant lesions were 100%, 58.2%, 62.9%, 100% and 71.8%, 81.8%, 73.7%, 80.4%, respectively. Criteria used for the distinction of malignant and benign lesions like number of vessels (p < 0.05), distribution of tumoral vessels, morphology of vessels and resistivity index values higher than 0.85 showed statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). When sonographic findings were combined with PDUS and spectral analysis findings, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 100%, 52.7%, 60% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion

PDUS and spectral analysis have no contribution to BI-RADS US. For the spectral analysis, when RI value is one or greater, malignancy risk significantly increases.