Discrimination of sonographically detected breast masses using frequency shift color Doppler imaging in combination with age and gray scale criteria.

Frequency shift color Doppler imaging was assessed in conjunction with patient age and gray scale (GS) features for discriminating benign from malignant breast masses. Thirty-eight women with sonographically detected masses scheduled for biopsy were evaluated using a 6- to 13-MHz scan head, and the masses were delineated in ultrasonographic image volumes. Vascularity in and around each mass was quantified using speed-weighted pixel density (SWD). Gray scale features were ranked visually on a linear scale. Combinations of indices were compared with histologic findings (18 benign and 20 malignant). Receiver operating characteristic analysis ranked performance in decreasing order from the SWD-Age-GS index, to SWD-GS, SWD-Age, Age-GS, GS criteria, SWD, and Age. At 100% sensitivity, SWD-Age-GS, SWD-GS, and SWD-Age discriminated benign from malignant masses with specificities of 94%, 89%, and 72%, respectively. These results indicate significant improvement in ultrasonographic discrimination of sonographically detected breast masses by combining the vascularity measure SWD with age and GS criteria.     

Breast carcinoma in young women previously treated for Hodgkin disease

The increased risk of a second malignant neoplasm developing after treatment for Hodgkin disease is well documented. Subsequent development of breast cancer in women who have been treated for Hodgkin disease is a relatively rare association. To date, no reports of the mammographic detection of breast cancer in this group of women have been published. We report six patients who developed seven breast cancers after treatment for Hodgkin disease. The average age of the women at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer was 33.5 years; diagnosis was made 10-23 years after treatment. There appears to be an increased prevalence of breast carcinoma in women who have been treated for Hodgkin disease. This association should receive further study to evaluate appropriate modifications in routine breast cancer screening for these women.     

Is Duct Excision Still Necessary for All Cases of Suspicious Nipple Discharge?

Despite the low likelihood of malignancy, it is recommended that all women with pathologic nipple discharge undergo duct excision based on the inadequate sensitivity of diagnostic modalities. However, these data originates prior to recent improvements in breast imaging. We performed a retrospective review of patients evaluated in the setting of modern diagnostic breast imaging. Of 175 women referred to our breast clinic with a primary complaint of nipple discharge, 142 (81%) had suspicious discharge. Of the 23 patients who opted for observation over duct excision, with a mean follow-up of 3.3 years, none have been diagnosed with cancer. Among patients who proceeded with surgery, cancer was diagnosed in seven patients (5%). Six of the seven patients had either an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound. Among 46 patients with suspicious nipple discharge, a normal physical exam and normal diagnostic mammogram/ultrasound, only one malignancy (2%) was identified in a 79-year-old patient with a personal history of breast cancer. In selected patients with suspicious nipple discharge, but normal physical exam and diagnostic imaging, short-term observation with repeat evaluation seems reasonable for patients who do not desire duct excision.     

Triple receptor-negative breast cancer: imaging and clinical characteristics

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the imaging findings of patients with breast cancer negative for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-so-called "triple receptor-negative cancer"-and to compare the mammographic findings and clinical characteristics of triple receptor-negative cancer with non-triple receptor-negative cancers (i.e., ER-positive, PR-positive, or HER2-positive or two of the three markers positive). CONCLUSION: Triple receptor-negative cancer was most commonly an irregular noncalcified mass with ill-defined or spiculated margins on mammography and a hypoechoic or complex mass with an irregular shape and noncircumscribed margins on ultrasound. Most triple receptor-negative cancers were discovered on physical examination. Compared with non-triple receptor-negative cancers, triple receptor-negative cancers were found in younger women and were a higher pathologic grade.     

Sonographically-guided metallic marker placement at time of wire localization for intraductal or cystic lesions: a method to verify lesion retrieval

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To propose deploying a metallic marker using sonographic guidance immediately before wire localization for excisional biopsy to identify intraductal or complex cystic lesions at specimen radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this study and is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant. The clinical, radiographic, and pathologic records of 21 patients, ages 21-78 years, with 22 intraductal or complex cystic masses who underwent excisional biopsy with wire localization immediately after sonographically-guided marker placement were reviewed. The procedure mammogram, ultrasound, and specimen radiographs were reviewed and evaluated for the presence of a metallic marker, lesion, or both. Pathology of all specimens was recorded and reviewed for concordance. RESULTS: Twenty-one (95%) of the markers were visualized on specimen radiographs. No lesions were apparent on specimen radiographs. Mammographic findings in 17 were negative (17/22; 77%); 3 circumscribed or partially obscured masses (3/22; 14%), 1 focal asymmetry (1/22; 5%), and 1 architectural distortion (5%) were also seen. Sonographic findings were 12 intraductal masses (12/22; 55%) and 10 complex cystic masses (10/22; 45%). Median and average size of all lesions were 9 mm (intraductal masses: median, 6 mm, mean, 7; complex cystic masses: median, 10 mm, mean, 11). All lesions were benign and all pathology was concordant with imaging findings. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high rate of marker retrieval on specimen radiography and pathologic concordance, marker placement at the time of wire localization is an efficient way to confirm retrieval of intraductal or complex cystic lesions.