Architectural distortion on digital breast tomosynthesis mammograms in symptomatic breast clinics: what are the result outcomes?

OBJECTIVES: In April 2020, standard two-dimensional (2D) full-field digital mammograms were replaced with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and synthesised 2D views for symptomatic breast clinics. This study aimed to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) for malignancy in DBT-detected Architectural distortion (AD). METHODS: All mammogram reports with the word "distortion" were assessed between April 2020 and October 2022. There were 458 mammograms with the word "distortion." After excluding mammograms with no distortion (n = 128), post-surgical distortion (n = 173), distortion with mass (n = 33), and unchanged distortion (n = 14), there were 111 patients with pure distortion. Correlation with histopathology was obtained where possible. All patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. RESULTS: Forty-two out of 111 patients (37.84%) with AD had a normal ultrasound (US) and were discharged. Fifty-five (49.5%) patients had sonographic correlation corresponding to the distortion, leading to US-guided biopsy. Thirteen (23.6%) had tomosynthesis-guided biopsy, and one had a skin biopsy. The PPV for malignancy was 42.34%. Malignancy diagnoses were higher with US-guided biopsies than tomosynthesis-guided biopsies, 78.1% and 30%, respectively. CONCLUSION: With a total malignancy rate of 42.34%, DBT-detected AD has a high enough PPV for malignancy to justify selective tissue sampling if a sonographic correlate is present or with suspicious mammograms. The chances of malignancy are higher when a sonographic correlate corresponding to AD is present. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: AD on DBT/synthesized mammograms views in symptomatic breast clinic patients justifies selective sampling.

Malignancy risk of indeterminate mammographic calcification in symptomatic breast clinics.

BACKGROUND: To explore the potential risk factors predicting malignancy in patients with indeterminate incidental mammographic microcalcification and to evaluate the short-term risk of developing malignancy. METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2015, one hundred and fifty (150) consecutive patients with indeterminate mammographic microcalcifications who had undergone stereotactic biopsy were evaluated. Clinical and mammographic features were recorded and compared with histopathological biopsy results. In patients with malignancy, postsurgical findings and surgical upgrade, if any, were recorded. Linear regression analysis (SPSS V.25) was used to evaluate significant variables predicting malignancy. OR with 95% CIs was calculated for all variables. All patients were followed up for a maximum of 10 years. The mean age of the patients was 52 years (range 33-79 years). RESULTS: There were a total of 55 (37%) malignant results in this study cohort. Age was an independent predictor of breast malignancy with an OR (95% CI) of 1.10 (1.03 to 1.16). Mammographic microcalcification size, pleomorphic morphology, multiple clusters and linear/segmental distribution were significantly associated with malignancy with OR (CI) of 1.03 (1.002 to 1.06), 6.06 (2.24 to 16.66), 6.35 (1.44 to 27.90) and 4.66 (1.07 to 20.19). The regional distribution of microcalcification had an OR of 3.09 (0.92 to 10.3), but this was not statistically significant. Patients with previous breast biopsies had a lower risk of breast malignancy than patients with no prior biopsy (p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Multiple clusters, linear/segmental distribution, pleomorphic morphology, size of mammographic microcalcifications and increasing age were independent predictors of malignancy. Having a previous breast biopsy did not increase malignancy risk.

Routine use of both mammography and MRI surveillance in patients with previous 'mammogram occult' breast cancer: experience from a tertiary centre.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of combined MRI and mammogram follow-up in patients with previous 'mammographically occult' breast cancer. METHODS: Between 2011 and 2016, examinations of all patients undergoing routine surveillance following previous 'mammogram occult' breast cancer were evaluated. Patients had both MRI and mammograms on the same day with an interval of 12-18 months between consecutive pairs. Total number of recalls on both imaging modalities and the outcome of those recalls was recorded. There were six median examinations per patient. RESULTS: There were a total of 325 examinations of 54 patients. There were 96 mammograms/MRI pairs and 87 lone MRI and 46 lone mammograms. There were a total of 26 recalls in 21 patients. MRI had specificity (95% CI) of 89.99 (85.67 to 93.11) compared to mammograms 96.27 (92.53 to 98.25). The diagnostic OR with 95% CI was 19.40 (3.70 to 101.57) vs 6.72 (1.43 to 31.58) of mammograms and MRI, respectively. Three of seven cancers presented symptomatically. CONCLUSIONS: MRI surveillance leads to higher recalls and false positives compared to mammograms in this specific subgroup of high-risk patients. Large proportion of cancers presented symptomatically, stressing the importance of remaining vigilant of breast symptoms despite imaging surveillance.

Symptomatic breast services in the post-COVID-19 era.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated unprecedented changes to the functioning of hospitals across the world. This article evaluates the acute impact of COVID-19 on the provision of symptomatic breast services in the UK and explores suggestions for more sustainable functioning of services in the post-COVID-19 era.

Malignancy risk of indeterminate mammographic calcification in symptomatic breast clinics.

BACKGROUND: To explore the potential risk factors predicting malignancy in patients with indeterminate incidental mammographic microcalcification and to evaluate the short-term risk of developing malignancy. METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2015, one hundred and fifty (150) consecutive patients with indeterminate mammographic microcalcifications who had undergone stereotactic biopsy were evaluated. Clinical and mammographic features were recorded and compared with histopathological biopsy results. In patients with malignancy, postsurgical findings and surgical upgrade, if any, were recorded. Linear regression analysis (SPSS V.25) was used to evaluate significant variables predicting malignancy. OR with 95% CIs was calculated for all variables. All patients were followed up for a maximum of 10 years. The mean age of the patients was 52 years (range 33-79 years). RESULTS: There were a total of 55 (37%) malignant results in this study cohort. Age was an independent predictor of breast malignancy with an OR (95% CI) of 1.10 (1.03 to 1.16). Mammographic microcalcification size, pleomorphic morphology, multiple clusters and linear/segmental distribution were significantly associated with malignancy with OR (CI) of 1.03 (1.002 to 1.06), 6.06 (2.24 to 16.66), 6.35 (1.44 to 27.90) and 4.66 (1.07 to 20.19). The regional distribution of microcalcification had an OR of 3.09 (0.92 to 10.3), but this was not statistically significant. Patients with previous breast biopsies had a lower risk of breast malignancy than patients with no prior biopsy (p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Multiple clusters, linear/segmental distribution, pleomorphic morphology, size of mammographic microcalcifications and increasing age were independent predictors of malignancy. Having a previous breast biopsy did not increase malignancy risk.

Selective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in invasive lobular breast cancer based on mammographic density: does it lead to an appropriate change in surgical treatment?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether high mammographic density can be used as one of the selection criteria for MRI in invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC). METHODS: In our institute, high breast density has been used as one of the indications for performing MRI scan in patients with ILC. We divided the patients in two groups, one with MRI performed pre-operatively and other without MRI. We compared their surgical procedures and analyzed whether surgical plan was altered after MRI. In case of alteration of plan, we analyzed whether the change was adequate by comparing post-operative histological findings. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2015, there were a total of 1601 breast cancers with 97 lobular cancers, out of which 36 had pre-operative MRI and 61 had no MRI scan. 12 (33.3%) had mastectomy following MRI, out of which 9 (25%) had change in surgical plan from conservation to mastectomy following MRI. There were no unnecessary mastectomies in the MRI group. However, utilization of MRI in this cohort of patients did not reduce reoperation rate (19.3%). Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) was identified in 60% of reoperations on post-surgical histology. Patients in the "No MRI" group had higher mastectomy rate 26 (42.6%), which was again appropriate. CONCLUSION: High mammographic density is a useful risk stratification criterion for selective MRI in ILC within a multidisciplinary team meeting setting. Provided additional lesions identified on MRI are confirmed with biopsy, pre-operative MRI does not cause unnecessary mastectomies. Used in this selective manner, reoperation rates were not eliminated, albeit reduced when compared to literature. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: High mammographic breast density can be used as one of the selection criteria for pre-operative MRI in ILC without an increase in inappropriate mastectomies with potential time and cost savings. In this cohort, re-excisions were not reduced markedly with pre-operative MRI.

Accuracy of MRI for prediction of response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer compared to other subtypes of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the prediction of response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative (TN) breast cancer, with respect to other subtypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were a total of 1610 breast cancers diagnosed between March 2009 and August 2014, out of which 82 patients underwent MRI before and after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy but just before surgery. TN cancers were analyzed with respect to others subtypes. Accuracy of MRI for prediction of pathological complete response was compared between different subtypes by obtaining receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21 was used for all data analysis, with P value of 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of 82 patients, 29 were luminal (HR+/HER2-), 23 were TN (HR-, HER2-), 11 were HER2 positive (HR-, HER2+), and 19 were of hybrid subtype (HR+/HER2+). TN cancers presented as masses on the pre-chemotherapy MRI scan, were grade 3 on histopathology, and showed concentric shrinkage following chemotherapy. TN cancers were more likely to have both imaging and pathological complete response following chemotherapy (P = 0.055) in contrast to luminal cancers, which show residual cancer. ROC curves were constructed for the prediction of pathological complete response with MRI. For the TN subgroup, MR had a sensitivity of 0.745 and specificity of 0.700 (P = 0.035), with an area under curve of 0.745 (95% confidence interval: 0.526-0.965), which was significantly better compared to other subtypes. CONCLUSION: TN breast cancers present as masses and show concentric shrinkage following chemotherapy. MRI is most accurate in predicting response to chemotherapy in the TN group, compared to others subtypes. MRI underestimates residual disease in luminal cancers.