Kimberly M. Ray

Suspicious Findings at Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Occult to Conventional Digital Mammography: Imaging Features and Pathology Findings

To review the imaging and pathologic features of a series of lesions detected at digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), which are occult to conventional digital mammography (DM). We retrospectively reviewed 268 consecutive breast imaging reporting and data system 4 and 5 lesions imaged with both DM and DBT at our facility from July 2012 through April 2013. For each lesion, we recorded the mammographic finding, breast density, mode of biopsy, and pathology results. A total of 19 lesions were identified at DBT that were occult to DM. Sixty three percent (12/19) of these lesions were identified in dense breasts. Architectural distortion was seen in 74% (14/19) of cases and spiculated masses accounted for the remaining 26% (5/19). The positive predictive value of biopsy was 53% (10/19). Seven cases were infiltrating ductal carcinomas and three were infiltrating lobular carcinomas. High‐risk lesions accounted for 47% (9/19) of the lesions, the majority of which were radial scars 67% (6/9). Eighty four percent (16/19) of the lesions underwent ultrasound guided core biopsy while the remainder underwent magnetic resonance imaging guided core biopsy. DBT may demonstrate suspicious lesions that are occult to DM, particularly in women with dense breasts. Such lesions have a high likelihood of malignancy and warrant biopsy.

Breast Density Legislation: Mandatory Disclosure to Patients, Alternative Screening, Billing, Reimbursement

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is describe the origins and provisions of breast density legislation and to evaluate these mandates with regard to the balance between the potential benefit of supplementary screening and the substantial risk of false-positive findings and the adjunctive tests they necessitate. CONCLUSION. Many states have passed breast density notification legislation, and federal legislation is pending. These mandates present a number of challenges for patients and physicians. There is no consensus regarding the need for supplementary testing solely because a woman has dense breasts. The failure of density legislation to require insurance coverage in many states further complicates implementation of the mandates.

Qualitative Radiogenomics: Association between Oncotype DX Test Recurrence Score and BI-RADS Mammographic and Breast MR Imaging Features

Purpose To evaluate the association between Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) mammographic and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features and breast cancer recurrence risk in patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who underwent the Oncotype DX assay. Materials and Methods In this institutional review board-approved and HIPAA-compliant protocol, 408 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2004 and 2013 who underwent the Oncotype DX assay were identified. Mammographic and MR imaging features were retrospectively collected according to the BI-RADS lexicon. Linear regression assessed the association between imaging features and Oncotype DX test recurrence score (ODxRS), and post hoc pairwise comparisons assessed ODxRS means by using imaging features. Results Mammographic breast density was inversely associated with ODxRS (P ≤ .05). Average ODxRS for density category A was 24.4 and that for density category D was 16.5 (P < .02). Both indistinct mass margins and fine linear branching calcifications at mammography were significantly associated with higher ODxRS (P < .01 and P < .03, respectively). Masses with indistinct margins had an average ODxRS of 31.3, which significantly differed from the ODxRS of 18.5 for all other mass margins (P < .01). The average ODxRS for fine linear branching calcifications was 29.6, whereas the ODxRS for all other suspicious calcification morphologies was 19.4 (P < .03). Average ODxRS was significantly higher for irregular mass margins at MR imaging compared with spiculated mass margins (24.0 vs 17.6; P < .02). The presence of nonmass enhancement at MR imaging was associated with lower ODxRS than was its absence (16.4 vs 19.9; P < .05). Conclusion The BI-RADS features of mammographic breast density, calcification morphology, mass margins at mammography and MR imaging, and nonmass enhancement at MR imaging have the potential to serve as imaging biomarkers of breast cancer recurrence risk. Further prospective studies involving larger patient cohorts are needed to validate these preliminary findings.

Improving Screening Mammography Outcomes Through Comparison With Multiple Prior Mammograms

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of comparison with multiple prior mammograms on the outcomes of screening mammography relative to comparison with a single prior mammogram. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 46,288 consecutive screening mammograms performed at our institution for 22,792 women. We divided these examinations into three groups: those interpreted without comparison with prior mammograms, those interpreted in comparison with one prior examination, and those interpreted in comparison with two or more prior examinations. For each group, we determined the rate of examination recall. We also calculated the positive predictive value of recall (i.e., positive predictive value level 1 [PPV1]) and the cancer detection rate (CDR) for both the group of examinations compared with a single prior mammogram and the group compared with multiple prior mammograms. Generalized estimating equations with the logistic link function were used to determine the relative odds ratio of recall as a function of the number of comparisons, with adjustment made for age as a confounding variable. The Fisher exact test was performed to compare the PPV1 and the CDR in the different cohorts. RESULTS The recall rate for mammograms interpreted without comparison with prior examinations was 16.6%, whereas that for mammograms compared with one prior examination was 7.8% and that for mammograms compared with two or more prior examinations was 6.3%. After adjustment was made for age, the odds ratio of recall for the group with multiple prior examinations relative to the group with a single prior examination was 0.864 (95% CI, 0.776-0.962; p = 0.0074). Statistically significant increases in the PPV1 of 0.05 (p = 0.0009) and in the CDR of 2.3 cases per 1000 examinations (p = 0.0481) were also noted for mammograms compared with multiple prior examinations relative to those compared with a single prior examination. CONCLUSION Comparison with two or more prior mammograms resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the screening mammography recall rate and increases in the CDR and PPV1 relative to comparison with a single prior mammogram.

Internal mammary lymph nodes as incidental findings at screening breast MRI

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of internal mammary lymph nodes (IMLNs) on breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a screening population. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 92 consecutive screening breast MRI exams. Logistic regression was performed to ascertain the risk of IMLNs in cancer-free subjects and to determine whether the risk varies with age. RESULTS IMLNs were present in 48.9% of patients. Mean node size was 4 mm (range, 3-10 mm). The prevalence of IMLNs was not related to age. No patients developed breast cancer after a mean follow-up of 3 years. CONCLUSION Subcentimeter IMLNs are common incidental findings at screening breast MRI.

Evidence to Support Screening Women in Their 40s

A large body of evidence demonstrates a 30% to 50% mortality benefit of screening mammography for women aged 40 to 49. Because of more rapid cancer growth rates in younger women, annual screening is more effective than biennial. Studies indicate that selective screening of women aged 40 to 49 would miss the majority of breast cancers. If implemented, recent US Preventive Services Task Force breast cancer screening guidelines, which recommend against routine screening of women in their 40s, could result in thousands of preventable breast cancer deaths per year. Vigilance is needed to safeguard younger womens access to screening mammography.

Follow-up outcomes after benign concordant MRI-guided breast biopsy

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes of benign concordant magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided breast biopsy. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 611 consecutive MRI-guided breast core biopsies at our institution from 2005 to 2012. Benign concordant cases with MRI follow-up constituted the study group. Lesion appearance on follow-up MRI was assessed and the false-negative rate was calculated. RESULTS Eighty-four lesions in 68 women underwent benign concordant MRI-guided biopsy with subsequent MRI follow-up. Mean time to first follow-up MRI was 10.5 months. Two false negatives were identified on follow-up at 8 and 26 months. CONCLUSIONS We report a false-negative rate of MRI-guided breast biopsy of 2.4%.

Effect of Background Parenchymal Enhancement on Breast MR Imaging Interpretive Performance in Community-based Practices

Purpose To evaluate the effect of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging interpretive performance in a large multi-institutional cohort with independent analysis of screening and diagnostic MR studies. Materials and Methods Analysis of 3770 breast MR studies was conducted. Examinations were performed in 2958 women at six participating facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area from January 2010 to October 2012. Findings were recorded prospectively in the San Francisco Mammography Registry. Performance measures were compared between studies with low BPE (mild or minimal) and those with high BPE (moderate or marked) by using binomial tests of proportions. Results Of 1726 MR imaging studies in the screening group, 1301 were classified as having low BPE and 425 were classified as having high BPE (75% vs 25%, respectively; P < .001). Of 2044 MR imaging studies in the diagnostic group, 1443 were classified as having low BPE and 601 were classified as having high BPE (71% vs 29%, respectively; P < .001). For low versus high BPE groups at screening, abnormal interpretation rate was 157 of 1301 versus 111 of 424 (12% vs 26%, P < .001); biopsy recommendation rate was 85 of 1301 versus 54 of 424 (7% vs 13%, P < .001); and specificity was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 87, 91) versus 75% (95% CI: 71, 80) (P = .01). For the low versus high BPE groups at diagnostic MR imaging, biopsy recommendation rate was 325 of 1443 versus 195 of 601 (23% vs 32%, P < .001); and specificity was 86% (95% CI: 84, 88) versus 75% (95% CI: 74, 82) (P < .001). There were no significant differences between studies with low versus high BPE in sensitivity for screening (76% [95% CI: 55, 91] vs 83% [95% CI: 52, 98]; P = .94) or diagnostic (93% [95% CI: 87, 97] vs 96% [95% CI: 87, 99]; P = .69) MR imaging, nor were there significant differences in cancer detection rate per 1000 patients between the low BPE versus high BPE groups for screening (15 per 1000 vs 24 per 1000, P = .30) or diagnostic (78 per 1000 vs 85 per 1000, P = .64) MR imaging. Conclusion Relative to MR studies with minimal or mild BPE, those with moderate or marked BPE were associated with higher abnormal interpretation and biopsy rates and lower specificity, with no difference in cancer detection rate.

Value of diagnostic imaging for the symptomatic male breast: Can we avoid unnecessary biopsies?

PURPOSE To review the use of diagnostic breast imaging and outcomes for symptomatic male patients. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated 122 males who underwent diagnostic imaging for breast symptoms at our academic center. RESULTS The majority (94%) of cases had negative or benign imaging, with gynecomastia being the most common diagnosis (78%). There were two malignancies, both of which had positive imaging. Fifteen patients underwent percutaneous biopsy, and over half (53%) were palpation-guided biopsies initiated by the referring clinician despite negative imaging. Diagnostic imaging demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity for identifying cancer. CONCLUSIONS Malignancy is rarely a cause of male breast symptoms. Diagnostic breast imaging is useful to establish benignity and avert unnecessary biopsies.

Dedicated Breast Positron Emission Tomography for the Evaluation of Early Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy provides an opportunity to assess tumor response to targeted therapies in vivo, and imaging plays a critical role in assessing the effectiveness of such therapies. Currently no clinical standard exists for evaluating response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, although positron emission tomography (PET) and contrastenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are promising candidate technologies. Positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose provides information about tumor metabolism that can powerfully predict treatment response early in the course of therapy, before anatomic changes become evident on MRI scans. The recent development of a high-resolution, breastspecific PET imaging system allows more detailed characterization of the primary breast tumor than conventional whole body PET systems. We report on the usage of dedicated breast PET to provide early assessment of treatment response in a patient with bilateral synchronous breast cancers.