Cherie M. Kuzmiak DO, Presenter: Research Grant, Siemens AG Research Grant, Zumatek, Inc

Eun Young Ko MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Laura Tuttle, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Doreen Steed ARRT, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Zumatek, Inc Research Grant, Siemens AG

Donglin Zeng PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess how well radiologists visualize relevant features of lesions seen with automated breast volumetric scanning in comparison to hand-held breast ultrasound in population of women going to biopsy.

Twenty-five patients were consecutively recruited from women who were scheduled to undergo a breast biopsy for at least one BIRADS 4 or 5 lesion identified in a diagnostic setting in this IRB approved study. The enrolled subjects subsequently underwent imaging of the breast(s) of concern using a dedicated FDA-approved ultrasound system that allowed both a hand-held breast ultrasound (HHBUS) and automated breast volumetric scanning (ABVS) to be performed with the same imaging parameters. Five experienced breast imaging radiologists reviewed the randomized cases in a reader study. Each reader was asked to compare side-by-side the breast ABVS exam to the HHBUS exam, including the lesion recommended for biopsy. Each reader was asked to specify the lesion type, size and imaging features, BIRADS score, probability of malignancy for each lesion for each modality and then they were asked to compare the lesion characteristics of shape and margins between the two modalities using a seven-point confidence scale for two sets of modality comparisons.  

There were thirty biopsied lesions in this study. All were masses. Seven (23.3%) masses were malignant and 23 (76.4%) were benign. Across all lesions regardless of size or final pathology, there was no significant difference between the two modalities in the readers’ BIRADS classification, probability of malignancy, sensitivity or specificity (P > 0.15). For malignant lesions, the reader visualization confidence scores between the two ultrasound modalities were not significantly different (P > 0.1). However, analysis for non-malignant cases showed a statistically significant increase in reader visualization confidence in lesion shape and margins with ABVS (P < 0.001).

Radiologists showed equal confidence in visualization of suspicious masses with automated breast volumetric scanning in comparison to hand-held breast ultrasound mammography and increased confidence in visualization of non-malignant lesions with automated breast volumetric scanning.

Dedicated automated whole breast ultrasound is a novel imaging technology that has the potential application for decreasing hand-held breast imaging use in a busy diagnostic clinic.

Kuzmiak, C, Ko, E, Tuttle, L, Steed, D, Zeng, D, Whole Breast Ultrasound: Comparison of the Visibility of Suspicious Lesions with Automated Breast Volumetric Scanning versus Hand-held Breast Ultrasound.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13015177.html