Ultrasound positive predictive values by BI-RADS categories 3-5 for solid masses: An independent reader study.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed multiple readers' positive predictive values (PPVs) for ACR BI-RADS 3, 4a, 4b, 4c and 5 masses on ultrasound (US) pre- and post-proposed guidelines. METHODS: This retrospective, IRB-approved study included four American and four non-American readers who assigned BI-RADS categories for US images of 374 biopsy-proved masses. Readers were offered guidelines and re-classified the masses. We assessed readers' abilities to achieve ACR benchmarks BI-RADS categories pre- and post-guidelines. RESULTS: PPVs increased with BI-RADS category. The PPVs pre- and post-guidelines were 6.0% and 4.4% for category 3, 27.3% and 30.5% for category 4a, 49.9% and 51.5% for category 4b, 69.0% and 67.4% for category 4c, and 79.3% and 80.1% for category 5. Readers achieved the PPV benchmark for category 4c, but not for categories 3, 4a, 4b and 5, with no significant improvement after guidelines. Regular BI-RADS 4 subcategory users missed benchmarks by less than non-regular users. CONCLUSION: Pre- and post-guidelines, readers' PPVs increased with BI-RADS categories, ACR PPV benchmarks were achieved in category 4c, missed in other categories, especially in the critical 4a subcategory, where the PPV was too high. BI-RADS 4 subcategory users performed better than non-users. KEY POINTS: • Readers failed to achieve benchmarks for BI-RADS 4 subcategories, especially 4a. • USA and Brazilian readers performed similarly in ACR BI-RADS 4 subcategorization. • Proposed guidelines did not improve overall, USA or Brazilian reader performance. • Regularly BI-RADS 4 subcategory users performed better than did non-users. • US features distinguished between benign and malignant, not BI-RADS 4 subcategories.

Can Doppler or contrast-enhanced ultrasound analysis add diagnostically important information about the nature of breast lesions?

OBJECTIVES: Despite evidence suggesting that Doppler ultrasonography can help to differentiate between benign and malignant breast lesions, it is rarely applied in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine whether certain vascular features of breast masses observed by duplex Doppler and color Doppler ultrasonography (before and/or after microbubble contrast injection) add information to the gray-scale analysis and support the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification. METHODS: Seventy solid lesions were prospectively evaluated with gray-scale ultrasonography, color Doppler ultrasonography, and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. The morphological analysis and lesion vascularity were correlated with the histological results. RESULTS: Percutaneous core biopsies revealed that 25/70 (17.5%) lesions were malignant, while 45 were benign. Hypervascular lesions with tortuous and central vessels, a resistive index (RI)≥ 0.73 before contrast injection, and an RI≥ 0.75 after contrast injection were significantly predictive of malignancy (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The combination of gray-scale ultrasonography data with unenhanced or enhanced duplex Doppler and color Doppler US data can provide diagnostically useful information. These techniques can be easily implemented because Doppler devices are already present in most health centers.

Can Doppler or contrast-enhanced ultrasound analysis add diagnostically important information about the nature of breast lesions?

OBJECTIVES: Despite evidence suggesting that Doppler ultrasonography can help to differentiate between benign and malignant breast lesions, it is rarely applied in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine whether certain vascular features of breast masses observed by duplex Doppler and color Doppler ultrasonography (before and/or after microbubble contrast injection) add information to the gray-scale analysis and support the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification. METHODS: Seventy solid lesions were prospectively evaluated with gray-scale ultrasonography, color Doppler ultrasonography, and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. The morphological analysis and lesion vascularity were correlated with the histological results. RESULTS: Percutaneous core biopsies revealed that 25/70 (17.5%) lesions were malignant, while 45 were benign. Hypervascular lesions with tortuous and central vessels, a resistive index (RI)≥0.73 before contrast injection, and an RI≥0.75 after contrast injection were significantly predictive of malignancy (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The combination of gray-scale ultrasonography data with unenhanced or enhanced duplex Doppler and color Doppler US data can provide diagnostically useful information. These techniques can be easily implemented because Doppler devices are already present in most health centers. .

Avaliação das características vasculares dos nódulos sólidos de mama com ultrassonografia Doppler pré e pós-injeção de contraste por microbolhas / Evaluation of vascular characteristics of breast masses with Doppler ultrasound before and after microbubble contrast injection

INTRODUÇÃO: O duplex-Doppler e a ultrassonografia com contraste são métodos pouco estudados em lesões mamárias. No entanto, em outros órgãos, têm se mostrado úteis na distinção entre lesões benignas e malignas. O objetivo deste trabalho é caracterizar os achados ao Doppler colorido pré e pós-contraste nos nódulos sólidos de mama, correlacionando-os com os resultados anatomopatológicos. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Setenta nódulos sólidos da mama foram avaliados por meio de ultrassonografia convencional e duplex-Doppler colorido antes e após a injeção do meio de contraste (ultrassonografia contrastada), no período compreendido entre março de 2007 e janeiro de 2008, e seus resultados foram comparados à análise histológica (padrão-ouro). Todas as pacientes assinaram o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da FMUSP. O estudo ultrassonográfico modo B avaliou a morfologia do nódulo e o classificou conforme o léxico BI-RADS. Ao duplex-Doppler colorido observou-se a vascularização nodular, descrevendo-se o número de vasos presentes (0 = avascularizado; 1 ou 2 = hipovascularizado, 3 = hipervascularizado), sua morfologia (regular ou tortuoso) e sua distribuição (periférica ou central). Os índices de resistividade e a presença de vaso penetrante também foram avaliados. A partir de dados da literatura criou-se um critério de classificação que permitiu estratificá-los entre provavelmente benigno (nódulos avasculares ou hipovasculares, com vasos regulares e distribuição periférica), provavelmente maligno (nódulos hipervasculares, com vasos tortuosos e distribuição central) ou suspeitos (qualquer outra associação desses fatores). No estudo contrastado foram realizadas análises cinética (avaliando-se os tempos de início da contrastação e do clareamento do nódulo, além da análise da intensidade da contrastação, de maneira subjetiva) e morfológica (utilizando-se os mesmos critérios da análise com Doppler). RESULTADOS: A análise histológica...

OBJECTIVE: The duplex-Doppler ultrasound and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) are poorly studied in breast lesions. However, in the other organs they have been proved to be useful in mass differentiation. Our objective is to characterize the Doppler findings before and after contrast agent injection in solid breast lesions then correlate them with pathological findings in order to evaluate the applicability of these methods in the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy solid breast masses were evaluated by conventional ultrasonography and duplex-color Doppler before and after injection of contrast medium (ultrasound contrast) in the period between March 2007 and January 2008 and their results were compared to histology (gold standard). All patients signed a consent form approved by the Ethics Committee of FMUSP. At gray-scale US the lesions were described and classified according to the BI-RADS lexicon. At duplex-Doppler we observed the lesion vascularity: avascular, hypovascular (one or two arteries) or hypervascular (three or more arteries); distribution (central or peripheral) and shape (regular or tortuous). If there was a penetrating artery, it was reported. We also observed resistive index. Based on literature data criterion was set up for classification which allowed to stratify breast lesions among probably benign (avascular or hypovascular masses, with regular vessels and peripheral distribution); probably malignant (hypervascular masses with tortuous and central vessels) or suspicious (any other combination of those factors). Kinetic analysis (wash in and wash out times, besides mass enhancement, in a subjective manner) and morphological analysis (using the same criteria of analysis with Doppler) were described in contrast study. RESULTS: Percutaneous biopsy revealed 25 malignant and 45 benign lesions. Morphologic analysis using gray-scale sonography and classified according the BI-RADS lexico...

Influência da luminância do negatoscópio na detectabilidade de fibras e microcalcificações, determinada por meio de objetos simulados / The influence of viewing boxes luminance on the detectability of fibers and microcalcifications using simulated objects (AU)

Considerando a natureza sutil dos achados mamográficos, é importante conhecermos como a detectabilidade de pequenos objetos, como fibras e microcalcificações, normalmente presentes em imagens mamográficas, pode ser influenciada pela intensidade luminosa do negatoscópio utilizado nas leituras. Nosso objetivo foi verificar como a luminância pode alterar a detectabilidade de objetos simulados. Foram feitas sete imagens com diferentes intensidades de exposição em duas condições técnicas usando um simulador que permite avaliações estatísticas. Os resultados foram computados usando uma escala de cinco níveis de confiança (100 se o especialista tem certeza da presença do objeto; 75 se provável a presença do objeto; 50 se incerta; 25 se improvável; zero se definitivamente ausente). As imagens foram interpretadas por especialistas que utilizaram negatoscópios "padrões" e específicos para imagens mamográficas. As detectabilidades foram estatisticamente comparadas entre si para cada tipo de negatoscópio por meio do teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson (p < 0,05). A detectabilidade variou de 0,79 a 0,87. Pudemos concluir que a detectabilidade dos objetos, determinada por meio de objetos simulados, é superior para os negatoscópios específicos para mamografias quando comparada aos negatoscópios "padrões" amplamente utilizados na radiologia geral

Considering the subtle findings observed in mammography images, it is relevant to know how detectability of fibers and microcalcifications can be influenced by the luminance of the viewing boxes. Our goal was to determine the influence of the luminance on the detectability of tiny simulated objects. We obtained seven images with different exposure levels using a phantom that allows statistical analysis. The results were computed using a five point scale to report the confidence levels (100 if the evaluator was sure that the object is present; 75 if likely; 50 if uncertain; 25 if not likely; zero if definitely absent). The images were analyzed by specialists using a "standard" and a specific viewing box for mammography. The detectability was compared using the Pearson chi-square test (p < 0.05). The values varied from 0.79 to 0.87. We concluded that the detectability determined from simulated objects through readings on the specific viewing boxes is higher when compared with the readings using standard viewing boxes.