Kyung Hee Ko

Clinical application of the BI-RADS final assessment to breast sonography in conjunction with mammography.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to report the results of classification of sonographic findings according to BI-RADS and to calculate the positive predictive value (PPV) for each BI-RADS assessment category. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We prospectively classified 4,668 breast sonograms according to BI-RADS final assessment category. Suspicious sonographic findings were divided into major and minor suspicious findings. Category 1 was normal and category 2 was a benign finding such as cyst or nodule with uniform and intense hyperechogenicity. A nodule neither category 2 nor category 4 or 5 was defined as category 3. A nodule with one or more suspicious findings, not category 5, was defined as category 4. A nodule with two or more major suspicious findings was defined as category 5. RESULTS Of the 4,668 cases, 321 cases failed to undergo follow-up of at least 1 year. The PPV was 0.1% in category 1 (3/2,191), 0% in category 2 (0/773), 0.8% in category 3 (6/737), 31.1% in category 4 (161/519), and 96.9% in category 5 (123/127). In palpable lesions (n = 751), the PPV was 2.2% in category 1 (2/93), 0.9% in category 3 (2/217), 54% in category 4 (107/198), and 98% in category 5 (98/100). In nonpalpable lesions (n = 3,596), the PPV was 0.05% in category 1 (1/2,098), 0.8% in category 3 (4/520), 16.8% in category 4 (54/321), and 92.6% in category 5 (25/27). CONCLUSION As with mammography, placing sonographic lesions into BI-RADS categories is useful for predicting the presence of malignancy.

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.

Primary Thyroid Lymphoma Role of Ultrasound-Guided Needle Biopsy

The purpose of this study was to describe the sonographic findings of primary thyroid lymphoma and evaluate the role of ultrasound‐guided biopsy in diagnosing thyroid lymphoma.

Sonographic Features of Axillary Lymphadenopathy Caused by Kikuchi Disease

Objective. The purpose of this study was to document the sonographic findings of axillary lymphadenopathy in Kikuchi disease. Methods. The medical records and sonographic findings of 7 patients with a pathologic diagnosis of Kikuchi disease in the axillary lymph node by sonographically guided core needle biopsy (n = 6) or excisional biopsy (n = 1) were reviewed. On sonograms, lymph nodes were assessed for their distribution, size, shape, border, echogenicity, and internal architecture, and those sonographic features of each node were evaluated to determine whether the findings favored malignant or benign lymphadenopathy. Results. Of the 7 patients (1 man and 6 women; mean age ± SD, 34.3 ± 7.7 years), 29 affected lymph nodes (5–38 mm; mean, 14.8 ± 7.2 mm) were identified on sonograms. The sonographic characteristics were as follows: the shortest axis/longest axis ratio of the node (mean, 0.595) was 0.5 or greater in 22 nodes (76%); the border was sharp in 16 (55%); the cortex was hypoechoic in 20 (69%) and isoechoic in 9 (31%); the hilum was narrow in 1 (4%) and absent in 16 (55%); and cortical thickening was found in 13 (45%, concentric in 6 and eccentric in 7). Nineteen lymph nodes (66%) were classified as having malignant‐favoring features, and 10 (34%) were classified as having benign‐favoring features. Conclusions. Many axillary lymph nodes in Kikuchi disease look suspicious sonographically. When lymph nodes in the axilla show suspicious findings on sonograms of relatively young patients, Kikuchi disease can be considered a possible differential diagnosis, and image‐guided percutaneous biopsy should be done.

Concordant or Discordant? Imaging-Pathology Correlation in a Sonography-Guided Core Needle Biopsy of a Breast Lesion

An imaging-guided core needle biopsy has been proven to be reliable and accurate for the diagnosis of both benign and malignant diseases of the breast, and has replaced surgical biopsy. However, the possibility of a false-negative biopsy still remains. Imaging-pathology correlation is of critical importance in imaging-guided breast biopsies to detect such a possible sampling error and avoid a delay in diagnosis. We will review five possible categories and corresponding management after performing an imaging-pathology correlation in a sonography-guided core needle biopsy of a breast lesion, as well as illustrate the selected images for each category in conjunction with the pathologic finding. Radiologists should be familiar with the imaging features of various breast pathologies and be able to appropriately correlate imaging findings with pathologic results after a core needle biopsy.

Invasive Papillary Carcinoma of the Breast Presenting as Post-Traumatic Recurrent Hemorrhagic Cysts

We report the sonographic features of an intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast presenting as recurrent hemorrhagic cysts following trauma. A 56-year-old woman presented with palpable breast masses after a traumatic event; sonography showed multiple, well-defined, hemorrhagic cysts. Hemorrhagic fluid was evacuated by fine needle aspiration with no residual lesions. Cytology was negative for malignancy. Five months later, the mass reappeared; sonography demonstrated multiple cysts with solid nodules. US-guided core biopsy and surgery revealed invasive papillary carcinoma. We suggest close follow-up of cystic masses, even with negative cytology, and performance of surgical excisional biopsy in cases of rapid refilling after aspiration.

The Safety and Efficiency of the Ultrasound-guided Large Needle Core Biopsy of Axilla Lymph Nodes

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficiency of the Ultrasound (US)-guided large needle core biopsy of axilla lymph nodes. Materials and Methods From March 2004 to September 2005, 31 patients underwent the US-guided core biopsy for axilla lymph nodes. Twenty five lesions out of 31 were detected during breast US, and 6 of 31 cases were palpable. Lymph nodes were classified based on their shape and cortical morphology. The core biopsy of axilla lymph nodes was performed on suspicious lymph nodes found during breast ultrasonography to find out whether the patients had a history of breast cancer or not. Among the 31 patients, 16 patients were associated with breast cancer. The lesion sizes varied from 0.6 cm to 3.3 cm (mean = 1.59 ± 0.76 cm). US-guided core biopsies were performed with 14 G needles with an automated biopsy gun. Total 3 or 5 specimens were obtained. Results Among the 31 cases of axilla lymph nodes core biopsies, 11 cases showed malignant pathology. Seven out of 11 cases were metastatic lymph nodes from breast cancer; 2 cases were from primary unknown and 2 cases from lymphomas. On the other hand, 20 histopathologic results of axilla lesions were benign: subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis (n = 2), dermatopathic lymphadenitis (n = 1), reactive hyperplasia (n = 10) and free of carcinoma (n = 7). Conclusion The US-guided large needle core biopsy of axilla lesions is safe and effective for the pathological evaluation. The core biopsy is believed to be easy to perform if suspicious lymph nodes or mass lesions are found in the axilla.

Clinical Image Evaluation of Film Mammograms in Korea: Comparison with the ACR Standard

Objective The goal of this study is to compare the overall quality of film mammograms taken according to the Korean standards with the American College of Radiology (ACR) standard for clinical image evaluation and to identify means of improving mammography quality in Korea. Materials and Methods Four hundred and sixty eight sets of film mammograms were evaluated with respect to the Korean and ACR standards for clinical image evaluation. The pass and failure rates of mammograms were compared by medical facility types. Average scores in each category of the two standards were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify an optimal Korean standard pass mark by taking the ACR standard as the reference standard. Results 93.6% (438/468) of mammograms passed the Korean standard, whereas only 80.1% (375/468) passed the ACR standard (p < 0.001). Non-radiologic private clinics had the lowest pass rate (88.1%: Korean standard, 71.8%: ACR standard) and the lowest total score (76.0) by the Korean standard. Average scores of positioning were lowest (19.3/29 by the Korean standard and 3.7/5 by the ACR standard). A cutoff score of 77.0 for the Korean standard was found to correspond to a pass level when the ACR standard was applied. Conclusion We suggest that tighter regulations, such as, raising the Korean pass mark, subtracting more for severe deficiencies, or considering a very low scores in even a single category as failure, are needed to improve the quality of mammography in Korea.

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.

Cavernous Lymphangiomas of the Breast Mimicking Breast Cancer

Lymphangiomas are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system and are thought to result from failure of the lymphatic system to connect with the venous system. Lymphangiomas in the breast are rare entities, and only a few cases have been documented in the literature. 1,2 Its sonographic appearance is reported as similar to that of a cluster of simple cysts or dilated ducts; however, the echogenicity depends on the size of the lymphatic channels, similar to a hemangioma. Here, we report a case of breast lymphangiomas mimicking multifocal breast cancer in a 34-year-old woman.