Diagnosis and follow-up performance of ultrasound elastography for BI-RADS category 3 lesions / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate whether patients with BI‐RADS category 3 breast lesions can be managed safely by 1‐year follow‐ups using ultrasound elastography .Methods Data from 164 patients who underwent conventional B‐mode ultrasound and ultrasound‐based elasticity examinations from September 2009 to March 2014 ,and had BI‐RADS category 3 lesions that appear to be circumscribed and oval in shape with elasticity scores of 1 -2 ,were retrospectively reviewed .Results Of 331 BI‐RADS category 3 lesions that originally appeared circumscribed and oval in shape in 164 women ,the mean follow‐up period was 21 3. months (range ,12-48 months) ,and 330 (99 7.% ) were unchanged at follow‐up and considered probably benign .One lesion was upgraded to BI‐RADS category 4a ,and a subsequent biopsy pathologically confirmed it was a fibroadenoma .Conclusions BI‐RADS category 3 lesions with elasticity scores of 2 or lower can be reclassified as BI‐RADS category 2 lesions .A 1‐year follow‐up may be adequate for women undergoing screening ultrasonography ,which are found to have BI‐RADS category 3 lesions that appear to be circumscribed and oval in shape with elasticity scores of 1-2 .