BI-RADS: use in the French radiologic community. How to overcome with some difficulties

In the United States, BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) has been set up as a quality assurance system for better communication between professionals and for the follow-up of breast screening programs. It has become a reference in the field of mammographic imaging and has been adopted by several countries throughout the world. It has been translated in French. The aim of this article is to discuss the difficulties in using it in the French radiologic communities. There are few problems with vocabulary excepted for microcalcifications. BI-RADS includes a guidance chapter giving some recommendations for using properly the lexicon. Classification of normal breast remains of concern, as it is difficult to evaluate precisely the content of fat and as the final image is also dependant of technical factors. The main difficulties are related to final classification in BI-RADS categories as the lexicon does not explicit which mammographic features should be included in the categories from three to five. In France, a table concerning the classification of mammographic abnormalities has been established by the HAS (former ANAES) which represents the highest scientific health authority in France. There are no major problems for using the BI-RADS for US and MRI. BI-RADS is suitable for different categories of women and for male and training has an important impact on acceptance and proper use of the lexicon.     

Incremental value of real-time ultrasound elastography in differentiating breast masses

Aim of the work

To evaluate the value of real-time ultrasound elastography (RTE) in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses.

Materials and methods

This study included, whether palpable or non-palpable, 145 sonographically proven breast masses in 121 patients, imaged by conventional B-mode US, color-flow Doppler US and RTE with histopathological analysis considered as the golden standard reference.

Results

Lesions were differentiated into benign and malignant by conventional B-mode US (79; 45.5% and 66; 54.5%, respectively), RTE (80; 55.2% and 65; 44.8% respectively), and histopathology (82; 56.6% and 63; 43.4%, respectively). The mean difference in the mass size was significant between B-mode US and RTE in malignant masses (P = 0.002), while not significant among benign masses (P = 0.153). The B-mode US depicted sensitivity of 92.06%, specificity of 90.24%, PPV of 87.88%, NPV of 93.67% and accuracy of 91.03%, while the RTE showed sensitivity of 98.41%, specificity of 96.34%, PPV of 95.38%, NPV of 98.75% and accuracy of 97.24%.

Conclusion

Combined use of RTE can complement conventional B-mode US with improving its diagnostic performance in differentiating breast lesions with subsequent reduction in the rate of unnecessary biopsies in benign lesions.     

Patient Perceptions of Breast Cancer Risk in Imaging-Detected Low-Risk Scenarios and Thresholds for Desired Intervention: A Multi-Institution Survey

PurposeTo determine women’s perceptions of breast cancer risk and thresholds for desiring biopsy when considering BI-RADS 3 and 4A scenarios and recommendations, respectively.Materials and MethodsWomen presenting for screening mammography from five geographically diverse medical centers were surveyed. Demographic information and baseline anxiety were queried. Participants were presented with scenarios of short-term imaging follow-up recommendations (ie, BI-RADS 3) and biopsy recommendations (ie, BI-RADS 4A) for low-risk mammographic abnormalities and asked to estimate their breast cancer risk for each scenario. Participants reported the threshold (ie, likelihood of cancer) where they would feel comfortable undergoing short-term imaging follow-up and biopsy and their anticipated regret for choosing short-term follow-up versus biopsy.ResultsAnalysis of 2,747 surveys showed that participants estimated breast cancer risk of 32.8% for a BI-RADS 3 and 41.1% for a BI-RADS 4A scenarios are significantly greater rates than clinically established rates (<2% [P < .001] and 2%-10% [P < .001], respectively). Over one-half (55.4%) of participants reported they would never want imaging follow-up if there was any chance of cancer; two-thirds (66.2%) reported they would desire biopsy if there was any chance of cancer. Participants reported greater anticipated regret (P < .001) and less relief and confidence (P < .001) with the decision to undergo follow-up imaging versus biopsy.ConclusionWomen overestimate breast cancer risk associated with both BI-RADS 3 and 4A scenarios and desire very low biopsy thresholds. Greater anticipated regret and less relief and confidence was reported with the choice to undergo short-term imaging follow-up compared with biopsy.     

Positive margins prediction in breast cancer conservative surgery: Assessment of a preoperative web-based nomogram

Margin status of the surgical specimen has been shown to be a prognostic and risk factor for local recurrence in breast cancer surgery. It has been studied as a topic of intervention to diminish reoperation rates and reduce the probability of local recurrence in breast conservative surgery (BCS).This study aims to validate the Dutch BreastConservation! nomogram, created by Pleijhus et al., which predicts preoperative probability of positive margins in BCS.Patients with diagnosis of breast cancer stages cT1-2, who underwent BCS at the Breast Center of São João University Hospital (BC-CHSJ) in 2013–2014, were included. Association and correlation were evaluated for clinical, radiological, pathological and surgical variables. Multivariable logistic regression and ROC curves were used to assess nomogram parameters and discrimination.In our series of 253 patients, no associations were found between margin status and other studied variables (such as age or family history of breast cancer), except for weight (p-value = 0.045) and volume (p-value = 0.012) of the surgical specimen.Regarding the nomogram, a statistically significant association was shown between cN1 status and positive margins (p-value = 0.014). No differences were registered between the scores of patients with positive versus negative margins. Discrimination analysis showed an AUC of 0.474 for the basic and 0.508 for the expanded models.We cannot assume its external validation or its applicability to our cohort. Further studies are needed to determine the validity of this nomogram and achieve a broader view of currently available tools.     

超声BI-RADS 3级乳腺小肿块联合TR活性检测的应用分析

目的 探讨乳腺超声联合硫氧还蛋白还原酶（TR）活性检测在提高BI-RADS 3级乳腺小肿块恶性病检出的应用价值。方法 选取2015年1月—2016年1月湖北医药学院附属人民医院健康管理中心乳腺超声检查确诊BI-RADS 3级乳腺肿块（直径≤2?cm）,同时TR活性检测结果异常,并行活检的被检者102例作为观察组,同期随机选取未行TR活性检测,仅行活检的被检者110例作为对照组。对比分析两组被检者一般资料及术后乳腺恶性病检出率的差异。结果 两组在是否绝经、月经初潮年龄、不同活检方法等方面差异无统计学意义（P?>0.05）。观察组TR活性检测结果阳性比例与观察组术后病理阳性比例间具有较好的一致性。观察组术后病理良性病变比例（92.4%）与对照组比较（93.5%）,差异无统计学意义（P?>0.05）。观察组术后病理阳性率（8.9%）高于对照组（1.8%）（P?<0.05）。结论 超声BI-RADS 3级乳腺小肿块（≤2?cm）联合TR活性检测,可筛查出部分潜在高危被检者,提高乳腺恶性病（乳腺癌）的检出率,值得临床推广、应用。     

Clinical application of qualitative assessment for breast masses in shear-wave elastography

Purpose

To evaluate the interobserver agreement and the diagnostic performance of various qualitative features in shear-wave elastography (SWE) for breast masses.

Materials and methods

A total of 153 breast lesions in 152 women who underwent B-mode ultrasound and SWE before biopsy were included. Qualitative analysis in SWE was performed using two different classifications: E values (Ecol; 6-point color score, Ehomo; homogeneity score and Esha; shape score) and a four-color pattern classification. Two radiologists reviewed five data sets: B-mode ultrasound, SWE, and combination of both for E values and four-color pattern. The BI-RADS categories were assessed B-mode and combined sets. Interobserver agreement was assessed using weighted κ statistics. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were analyzed.

Results

Interobserver agreement was substantial for Ecol (κ = 0.79), Ehomo (κ = 0.77) and four-color pattern (κ = 0.64), and moderate for Esha (κ = 0.56). Better-performing qualitative features were Ecol and four-color pattern (AUCs, 0.932 and 0.925) compared with Ehomo and Esha (AUCs, 0.857 and 0.864; P < 0.05). The diagnostic performance of B-mode ultrasound (AUC, 0.950) was not significantly different from combined sets with E value and with four color pattern (AUCs, 0.962 and 0.954). When all qualitative values were negative, leading to downgrade the BI-RADS category, the specificity increased significantly from 16.5% to 56.1% (E value) and 57.0% (four-color pattern) (P < 0.001) without improvement in sensitivity.

Conclusion

The qualitative SWE features were highly reproducible and showed good diagnostic performance in suspicious breast masses. Adding qualitative SWE to B-mode ultrasound increased specificity in decision making for biopsy recommendation.     

乳腺BI-RADS 4类结节超声图像特征分析

目的:对超声诊断乳腺BI-RADS 4类结节的超声图像特征进行分析,并与病理结果对比研究。方法:回顾性分析2017年10月至2018年12月我院383例超声诊断为BI-RADS4类乳腺结节的超声图像特征,以手术或穿刺活检病理为金标准,分析良恶性乳腺结节在形态、边界、边缘、钙化、后方回声等方面的差异。结果:与病理诊断结果比较,383例BI-RADS4类结节中,超声诊断良恶性结节的符合率分别为81.5%与71.1%。良性结节患者平均年龄(46.7±10.5)岁,恶性结节患者平均年龄(55.5±12.4)岁,两组具有显著性差异(P<0.05);绘制ROC曲线得出,以46岁为截断值,其曲线下面积为0.695,诊断的敏感性为69.8%,特异性为60.3%。良性结节与恶性结节的超声图像对比:良性结节多表现为形态规则,边界清晰,边缘光滑、分叶,多不伴钙化;恶性结节多表现为形态不规则、边界模糊,边缘成角、毛刺,多伴微钙化(P<0.05)。良恶性结节间后方回声变化比较无显著统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:超声诊断BI-RADS4类结节中,良恶性病变具有不同的声像图特征,可为临床医生进行乳腺结节良恶性诊断提供重要参考。     

自动乳腺全容积成像与声触诊组织成像量化对乳腺良恶性病变的鉴别诊断价值

目的:探讨自动乳腺全容积成像(ABVS)与声触诊组织成像量化(VTIQ)技术对乳腺良恶性病变的鉴别诊断价值.方法:选取2018年8月至2019年7月上海市宝山区仁和医院收治的女性乳腺疾病患者200例,共260个肿块,均进行ABVS及VTIQ检测.以手术或穿刺活检病理结果为金标准,对比2种方法及2种方法联合在乳腺良恶性病...