Efficacy of MRI-Directed Breast Ultrasound and Lesion Characteristics Affecting Visualization on Breast Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-directed ultrasound (US) in further characterizing lesions detected on MRI and to evaluate the correlation between lesion characteristics and their visibility on US. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of the records of patients with breast abnormalities detected on MRI between May 2018 and December 2020. All patients who were given a Breast Imaging-Reported and Data System Assessment Category 4 or 5 on breast MRI and sent to breast US for assessment of the MRI abnormality were included. Patients lost to follow-up or those who did not get their subsequent ultrasound at our institution were excluded. The following factors were recorded for all lesions described on the MRI reports: breast density, degree of background parenchymal enhancement, type of MRI finding (mass, areas of non-mass enhancement [NME], enhancing focus), largest dimension, T2 signal intensity, kinetics, shape, margins, enhancement pattern, and presence of ipsilateral breast malignancy. For the subset of the lesions that were identified on MRI-directed US, we recorded the following sonographic features: largest dimension, shape, and margin. The chi-square or Fisher exact tests of association were used to compare categorical characteristics. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-three MRI-detected breast lesions were included in the study, which consisted of 171 masses, 7 enhancing foci, and 55 NME lesions. Of all lesions, 52% (89/171) of masses, 29% (16/55) of areas of NME, and 29% (2/7) of foci were seen on US. Moreover, 43 per 63 (68%) of malignant, 18 per 47 (38%) of high-risk and 46 per 123 (37%) of benign lesions were seen on MRI-directed US. Of the invasive malignant lesions, 77% (36/47) had a sonographic correlate. For masses, the average size on MRI was 1.1 cm, and MRI size had a statistically significant association with US visibility (P value 0.01). Similarly, spiculated margins on MRI for masses had a significant association with US visibility (P value 0.0006). Linear, segmental, and regional distributions of areas of NME were associated with decreased likelihood of sonographic visibility (P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: MRI-directed US is a useful tool in the management of MRI-detected breast lesions. Our study indicates that masses, particularly those with spiculated margins on MRI, should be sent to US for further assessment. Additionally, masses are more likely to be seen under US as their size increases. MRI-directed US is less likely to visualize areas of NME and enhancing foci, which may be managed with MRI follow-up or MRI-guided biopsy depending on their level of suspicion.

Comparison of breast density assessments between synthesized C-View™ & intelligent 2D™ mammography.

OBJECTIVE: To compare breast density assessments between C-View™ and Intelligent 2D™, different generations of synthesized mammography (SM) from Hologic. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we identified a subset of females between March 2017 and December 2019 who underwent screening digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) with C-View followed by DBT with Intelligent 2D. Clinical Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System breast density was obtained along with volumetric breast density measures (including density grade, breast volume, percentage volumetric density, dense volume) using VolparaTM. Differences in density measures by type of synthesized image were calculated using the pairwise t-test or McNemar's test, as appropriate. RESULTS: 67 patients (avg age 62.7; range 40-84) were included with an average of 13.3 months between the two exams. No difference was found in Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System density between the SM reconstructions (p = 0.74). Similarly, there was no difference in VolparaTM mean density grade (p = 0.71), mean breast volume (p = 0.48), mean dense volume (p = 0.43) or mean percent volumetric density (p = 0.12) between the exams. CONCLUSION: We found no significant differences in clinical and automated breast density assessments between these two versions of SM. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Lack of differences in density estimates between the two SM reconstructions is important as density assignment impacts risk stratification and adjunct screening recommendations.

Bladder hemangioma: An arduous diagnosis of hematuria.

Urinary bladder hemangiomas are a rare cause of gross hematuria in young patients. Multimodality imaging with ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging help define the site and extent of hemangioma. We describe a case of an otherwise healthy 9-year-old male presenting with recurrent gross hematuria. The initial US did not demonstrate a bladder mass, but subsequent cystoscopies showed progressive enlargement of an extensive sessile and partially pedunculated vascular mass. Imaging with ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging persistently demonstrated a hypervascular bladder mass without extravesical extension. Ultimately, biopsy of the mass made the diagnosis of bladder hemangioma.

Review of Nonmammary Metastases to the Breast: Imaging and Clinical Presentation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study is to review the imaging findings of breast metastases from nonmammary sources at our institution and to explore the mode of initial detection of these breast metastases. METHODS: In this study, we reviewed our electronic medical record and our breast imaging database for all patients who presented with nonmammary metastases to breasts between 5/1/2009 and 12/1/2019. We reviewed all available imaging data, clinical notes, and pathology reports. RESULTS: Sixteen cases of nonmammary metastases to the breast were included in this study, of which there were 4 (25%) metastases from melanoma, 3 (19%) from carcinoid tumor, 2 (13%) from lung cancer, 2 (13%) from leiomyosarcoma, 1 (6%) each from lipsarcoma, renal cell carcinoma, colon cancer, neuroendocrine tumor, and adenoid cystic carcinoma. 6/8 (75%) lesions that had breast imaging were oval in shape with circumscribed or microlobulated margins on mammography and/or ultrasound. 13/16 (81%) breast metastases were asymptomatic and diagnosed on systemic staging exams. Three out of 16 (19%) nonmammary breast metastases were palpable and were diagnosed on subsequent breast imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Most (25%) nonmammary breast metastases in our patient population occur from melanoma and most breast metastases (75%) are oval in shape with circumscribed or microlobulated margins. Majority (81%) of these lesions are asymptomatic and initially diagnosed on systemic staging tests, and the remaining are discovered as palpable lesions.

Sporadic Hemangioblastoma of the Cavernous Sinus and Meckel's Cave.

Objectives To describe an extremely rare case of sporadic hemangioblastoma (HB) within the cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave with extension to the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern. Methods A 73-year-old male presented with hearing loss, unilateral ptosis, and facial numbness. Results The imaging showed a complex cystic-solid mass centered at the left cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave with extension to the CPA cistern. Patient underwent retrosigmoid craniectomy for partial resection of the CPA angle component of the mass. Surgical pathology confirmed the diagnosis of HB and patient was scheduled for subsequent radiotherapy of the residual mass. Conclusions We present an exceptional case of supratentorial HB without associated von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, which was predominantly located in the cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave and led to multiple cranial nerve symptoms. We describe imaging characteristics and radiologic-pathologic correlation of this atypically located HB, which can be difficult to consider in the differential diagnosis presurgically.

Pancreaticopleural Fistula: A Review of Imaging Diagnosis and Early Endoscopic Intervention.

A 49-year-old male with history of chronic alcohol-induced pancreatitis presented with one month of worsening left pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath. Chest radiograph demonstrated bilateral pleural effusions. Thoracentesis revealed increased amylase in the pleural fluid. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showed a fistula tract between the left pleural cavity and pancreas which was confirmed on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Patient was treated with placement of a pancreatic stent with complete resolution of the fistula tract approximately in 9 weeks. A systematic literature search was performed on reported cases with pancreaticopleural fistula (PPF) who underwent early therapeutic endoscopy within the last 10 years. Imaging modalities, particularly CT and MRCP, play essential role in prompt preprocedural diagnosis of PPF. Early therapeutic ERCP is an effective and relatively safe treatment option for PPF, so invasive surgery may be avoided.