Hae Kyoung Jung

Practice guideline for the performance of breast ultrasound elastography

Ultrasound (US) elastography is a valuable imaging technique for tissue characterization. Two main types of elastography, strain and shear-wave, are commonly used to image breast tissue. The use of elastography is expected to increase, particularly with the increased use of US for breast screening. Recently, the US elastographic features of breast masses have been incorporated into the 2nd edition of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) US lexicon as associated findings. This review suggests practical guidelines for breast US elastography in consensus with the Korean Breast Elastography Study Group, which was formed in August 2013 to perform a multicenter prospective study on the use of elastography for US breast screening. This article is focused on the role of elastography in combination with B-mode US for the evaluation of breast masses. Practical tips for adequate data acquisition and the interpretation of elastography results are also presented.

Unilateral Breast Edema: Spectrum of Etiologies and Imaging Appearances

Breast edema is defined as a mammographic pattern of skin thickening, increased parenchymal density, and interstitial marking. It can be caused by benign or malignant diseases, as a result of a tumor in the dermal lymphatics of the breast, lymphatic congestion caused by breast, lymphatic drainage obstruction, or by congestive heart failure. Here we describe several conditions, that cause unilateral breast edema with the aim of familiarizing radiologists with these disease entities.

Qualitative pattern classification of shear wave elastography for breast masses: How it correlates to quantitative measurements

OBJECTIVE To determine the correlation of qualitative shear wave elastography (SWE) pattern classification to quantitative SWE measurements and whether it is representative of quantitative SWE values with similar performances. METHODS From October 2012 to January 2013, 267 breast masses of 236 women (mean age: 45.12 ± 10.54 years, range: 21-88 years) who had undergone ultrasonography (US), SWE, and subsequent biopsy were included. US BI-RADS final assessment and qualitative and quantitative SWE measurements were recorded. Correlation between pattern classification and mean elasticity, maximum elasticity, elasticity ratio and standard deviation were evaluated. Diagnostic performances of grayscale US, SWE parameters, and US combined to SWE values were calculated and compared. RESULTS Of the 267 breast masses, 208 (77.9%) were benign and 59 (22.1%) were malignant. Pattern classifications significantly correlated with all quantitative SWE measurements, showing highest correlation with maximum elasticity, r = 0.721 (P<0.001). Sensitivity was significantly decreased in US combined to SWE measurements to grayscale US: 69.5-89.8% to 100.0%, while specificity was significantly improved: 62.5-81.7% to 13.9% (P<0.001). Area under the ROC curve (Az) did not show significant differences between grayscale US to US combined to SWE (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Pattern classification shows high correlation to maximum stiffness and may be representative of quantitative SWE values. When combined to grayscale US, SWE improves specificity of US.

Galactoceles mimicking suspicious solid masses on sonography.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sonographic appearance of a galactocele that can sonographically mimic a suspicious solid mass and to differentiate between a galactocele and a solid mass. Methods. From September 2002 to February 2004, 33 galactoceles classified as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 4 were included. They were all confirmed by sonographically guided core biopsies. Their sonographic imaging and clinical findings were reviewed retrospectively. Results. The lesions had a round or irregular shape in 26 patients (78.8%), a noncircumscribed margin in 31 (93.9%), a nonparallel orientation in 22 (66%), and posterior shadowing in 13 (39.4%). Twenty‐five nodules (75.8%) had internal hypoechogenicity or mixed echogenicity. Twenty‐nine (87.9%) of 33 lesions showed a relatively sharp convex echogenic rim on the anterior or posterior wall. Conclusions. Galactoceles have various sonographic findings, many of which are similar to those of suspicious solid breast masses. However, there is a tendency for a galactocele to appear as a small, round hypoechoic nodule with an indistinct or microlobulated margin and mild posterior shadowing. It is helpful to search for a partial anterior or posterior echogenic rim to identify a galactocele.

Shear Wave Elastography: Is It a Valuable Additive Method to Conventional Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Small (≤2 cm) Breast Cancer?

Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of shear wave elastography (SWE) added to conventional ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of small (⩽2 cm) breast cancer. Among 410 patients who underwent SWE before US-guided biopsy from June 2012 to June 2013, 171 patients (mean age: 45.17 ± 9.37 years) with 177 small (⩽2 cm) breast lesions were enrolled in this study. Diagnostic performances of each quantitative SWE parameters were calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Performances of conventional US and US combined to SWE was also compared. Histologic diagnosis was used as a reference standard. Of the 177 lesions, 22 lesions (12.4%) were malignant and 155 (87.6%) were benign. With respect to conventional US, when a cutoff point between category 3 and 4a was used, the Az value was 0.915 (100% sensitivity, 36.8% specificity, 18.3% positive predictive value (PPV), and 100% negative predictive value (NPV)). All average quantitative elastography values were significantly higher in malignant lesions compared to benign lesions (P = 0.001). The Emax value with a cutoff of 87.5 kPa had the highest Az value of 0.796 (68.2% sensitivity and 87.1% specificity, 42.9% PPV, and 95.1% NPV). Az value of combined data (0.861, 95% CI: 0.801, 0.909) was significantly lower than that of conventional US alone (P = 0.02). By using an Emax value for downgrading Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4a lesions to category 3, 76/94 category 4a lesions (80.9%) were downgraded. After downgrading, 5 cancers were missed and the malignancy rate of category 3 lesions increased from 0% (0/55) to 3.8% (5/133) (P = 0.01). In conclusion, combined use of SWE and conventional US increased the specificity by reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies in differential diagnosis of small breast lesions. However, we propose that the application of conservative strategy for downgrading of soft category 4a lesions would be appropriate to minimize false-negative cases.

Breast Fibromatosis Showing Unusual Sonographic Features

Fibromatosis of the breast is extremely uncommon, accounting for less than 0.2% of all breast tumors. It mimics features typical of breast cancer because it often presents with a movable firm painless mass and mammographically appears as an irregular high-density spiculated mass. On sonography it most frequently appears as an irregular hypoechoic spiculated mass with posterior acoustic shadowing. We report a particularly unusual case of fibromatosis of the breast.

Non-mass breast lesions on ultrasound: final outcomes and predictors of malignancy

Background Breast cancer can present as non-mass lesions (NMLs) on ultrasound. However, knowledge of and understanding about NMLs are scarce. Purpose To retrospectively investigate the final outcomes of sonographic breast NMLs and determine the clinical and radiologic variables associated with malignancy Material and Methods In our radiologic database of breast ultrasound examinations between 2011 and 2014, we found 119 women with 121 NMLs with available histopathologic or sonographic follow-up (over 2 years) data. We collected the clinical variables (patient’s age, symptoms, and mammographic density) and histopathologic data as well as radiologic variables (mammographic and ultrasound findings) after retrospective review by two radiologists, the authors of the current paper, in consensus. We classified the ultrasound findings according to distribution (focal, linear or segmental, and regional) and associated features (calcification, architectural distortion, and ductal changes) and analyzed the associations between variables and malignancy using the t test and χ2 test. Results Of the 121 NMLs, 88 (72.7%) were benign and 33 (27.3%) were malignant. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (17/33, 51.5%) and invasive ductal cancer with or without DCIS (13/33, 39.4%) comprised the main malignancies, and malignancy was significantly associated with palpability (P = 0.000). Mammographic findings and sonographic distribution and associated features were significantly different between benign and malignant lesions (P = 0.000, P = 0.004, and P = 0.001, respectively). Malignant lesions showed more frequent calcifications combined with asymmetry (P = 0.000) on mammography and linear-segmental distributions (P = 0.001) and associated calcifications (P = 0.019) or architectural distortions (P = 0.015) on ultrasound. Conclusion Breast NMLs on ultrasound showed high risk of malignancy. Symptoms and mammographic and ultrasound findings can be possible predictors of malignancy in NMLs.

Atypical pleural tuberculosis presenting as an isolated pleural tuberculoma.

Pleural tuberculosis is the most common extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis, and is generally characterized by an effusion. The effusion is usually unilateral and residual pleural thickening or calcification is also observed in some cases. Manifestations of multiple pleural tuberculomas without associated effusion and history of tuberculosis or antituberculous therapy are rare and an isolated pleural tuberculoma is exceedingly rare. Herein, we report the first documented case of an isolated pleural tuberculoma, diagnosed by chest CT and pathological findings. Although rare, an isolated pleural tuberculoma should be added to the differential diagnosis of focal nodular pleural tumors, particularly in areas of high tuberculosis prevalence.

Complications and Radiologic Features of Breast Augmentation via Injection of Aquafilling Gel: Complications of Aquafilling Gel Mammoplasty

Many attempts have been made to augment breasts using injectable materials; however, various complications are associated with these materials. Aquafilling gel (Aquafilling, Poděbrady, Czech Republic) is a new soft tissue filler that has been used as an implant material for the face and lip and recently for breast augmentation. This article describes 3 cases of augmentation mammoplasty using Aquafilling gel, focusing on their complications and radiologic features.

Diagnostic Usefulness of Combination of Diffusion-weighted Imaging and T2WI, Including Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Breast Lesions: Assessment of Histologic Grade

PURPOSE This study aimed to compare the diagnostic values of a combination of diffusion-weighted imaging and T2-weighted imaging (DWI-T2WI) with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), and to evaluate the correlation of DWI with the histologic grade in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study evaluated a total of 169 breast lesions from 136 patients who underwent both DCE-MRI and DWI (b value, 1000s/mm2). Morphologic and kinetic analyses for DCE-MRI were classified according to the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System. For the DWI-T2WI set, a DWI-T2WI score for lesion characterization that compared signal intensity of DWI and T2WI (benign: DWI-T2WI score of 1, 2; malignant: DWI-T2WI score of 3, 4, 5) was used. The diagnostic values of DCE-MRI, DWI-T2WI set, and combined assessment of DCE and DWI-T2WI were calculated. RESULTS Of 169 breast lesions, 48 were benign and 121 were malignant (89 invasive ductal carcinoma, 24 ductal carcinoma in situ, 4 invasive lobular carcinoma, 4 mucinous carcinoma). The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of invasive ductal carcinoma (0.92 ± 0.19 × 10-3 mm2/s) and ductal carcinoma in situ (1.11 ± 0.13 × 10-3 mm2/s) was significantly lower than the value seen in benign lesions (1.36 ± 0.22 × 10-3 mm2/s). The specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and accuracy of DWI-T2WI set and combined assessment of DCE and DWI-T2WI (specificity, 87.5% and 91.7%; PPV, 94.3% and 96.2%; accuracy, Az = 0.876 and 0.922) were significantly higher than those of the DCE-MRI (specificity, 45.8%; PPV, 81.7%; accuracy, Az = 0.854; P < .05). A low ADC value and the presence of rim enhancement were associated with a higher histologic grade cancer (P < .05). CONCLUSION Combining DWI, T2WI, and ADC values provides increased accuracy for differentiation between benign and malignant lesions, compared with DCE-MRI. A lower ADC value was associated with a higher histologic grade cancer.