Breast ultrasound and mammography are established procedures for the diagnosis of breast masses while new technology is opening the door for early cancer diagnosis. The limitation of ultrasound and mammography is that they are only based on physical properties. Recently, using a color doppler system, detection of color flow signal and a resistance index that depend on the blood flow and the blood velocity was applied for diagnosis of breast malignancy. Sixty-five patients admitted for breast surgery were studied. The final diagnosis was made by pathology for thirty malignancies and thirty-five benign lesions. The color doppler measurements on the breast lesions were made preoperatively. The following parameter were assessed :flow velocity, color signal grade and resistance index. The results are as follows: 1) Color signals were detected in twenty-four of the thirty malignancies and in seven of thirty-five benign lesions. 2) Malignant lesions showed a significantly higher maximum velocity (mean=12.52 cm/sec vs 6.34 cm/sec). 3) The resistance index values in the malignancies was higher compared to that in the benign lesions (P < 0.01), a cutoff point 0.6 was used. 4) The color signal grade was grade 0 and I in thirty-four cases of the benign breast lesions (97%) and grade II and III in fifteen of the malignant breast lesions (50%). 5) In breast cancer, the color signal was detected more often in large masses above 2 cm is size,but the result was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Color doppler flow examination is a useful method for evaluation of benign and malignant breast lesions.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Mammography ; Pathology ; Ultrasonography

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.
*Biopsy, Needle ; Breast Neoplasms/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; *Ultrasonography, Interventional ; *Ultrasonography, Mammary

In this paper, we evaluate the radiological features of pregnancy-associated breast lesions and discuss the difficulties in diagnosis by imaging. We selected patients who were diagnosed with pregnancy-associated breast lesions during the previous 5 years. All patients complained of palpable lesions in the breast and underwent ultrasonographic (US) examination, the first choice for examination of pregnancy-related breast lesions. Any suspicious lesions found by the US were recommended for a US-guided core biopsy, US-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA), or surgery. Various breast lesions were detected during pregnancy and lactation, including breast cancer, mastitis and abscesses, lactating adenoma, galactoceles, lobular hyperplasia, and fibroadenomas. The imaging features of pregnancy-associated breast lesions did not differ from the features of non-pregnancy-associated breast lesions; however, some pregnancy-associated benign lesions had suspicious sonographic features. A US-guided core biopsy was necessary for differentiating benign from malignant. In patients with breast cancer, the cancer was often advanced at the time of diagnosis. In conclusion, various pregnancy-related breast lesions were detected and the imaging of these lesions had variable findings. Breast ultrasound could be an excellent imaging modality for diagnosis and differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. However, when the imaging results are suspicious, a biopsy should be performed to obtain a pathologic diagnosis.
Ultrasonography, Mammary ; Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis/*radiography/surgery ; Pregnancy ; *Mammography ; Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology/radiography/ultrasonography ; Breast Diseases/pathology/*radiography/ultrasonography ; Breast/pathology/surgery ; Biopsy ; Adult

Early screening is an important means to reduce breast cancer mortality. In order to solve the problem of low breast cancer screening rates caused by limited medical resources in remote and impoverished areas, this paper designs a breast cancer screening system aided with portable ultrasound Clarius. The system automatically segments the tumor area of the B-ultrasound image on the mobile terminal and uses the ultrasound radio frequency data on the cloud server to automatically classify the benign and malignant tumors. Experimental results in this study show that the accuracy of breast tumor segmentation reaches 98%, and the accuracy of benign and malignant classification reaches 82%, and the system is accurate and reliable. The system is easy to set up and operate, which is convenient for patients in remote and poor areas to carry out early breast cancer screening. It is beneficial to objectively diagnose disease, and it is the first time for the domestic breast cancer auxiliary screening system on the mobile terminal.
Breast/pathology* ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary/methods*

PURPOSE: Increased technologic capabilities have allowed for the expanded use of ultrasound beyond simple differentiation of a lesion as solid versus cystic nature, allowing us to classify lesions into various categories based on a number of descriptive features. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether to predict the preoperative prognosis of breast cancer through the correlation between ultrasonographic images and the grade of malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient population for this study consisted of 107 patients with infiltrative ductal carcinoma who were evaluated using ultrasound technology. Ultrasonographic findings were divided as follows: Type I, round or oval shape and regular border; Type II, partially round or oval shape and partially irregular border; and Type III, irregular shape and irregular border. RESULTS: 1. The frequency of grade 1 (G1) was significantly higher in the Type I group than the othergroups. 2. In the 2.0 cm sized mass, the lymph node metastasis rate was significantly lower in the Type I group than the other groups. 3. In all the groups, Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity was insignificant regardless of tumor size and type. 4. In the 2.0 cm sized mass, c-erbB-2 positivity was significantly lower in the Type I than the other groups. There was no clear difference among the three groups in tumors greater than 2.0 cm in size. CONCLUSION: These results show that our classification of ultrasonographic images reflect the grade of malignancy in terms of clinicopathological features in breast cancers less than 2.0 cm in size. Therefore, ultrasonographic findings may help predict the preoperative prognosis in T1 size breast cancer, although further study is required.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Absorbable retaining thread (ART) needle localization utilizes a guiding needle with a thread; this technique was invented to reduce patient discomfort and wire migration. We investigated the feasibility of ultrasound (US)-guided ART needle localization for nonpalpable breast lesions. METHODS: ART needle localization was performed for 26 nonpalpable breast lesions in 26 patients who were scheduled to undergo surgical excision the day after localization. Seventeen breast lesions were initially diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma, six as ductal carcinomas in situ, and one as fibrocystic change. The other two cases without an initial pathologic diagnosis had suspicious US features, and excision was planned concomitantly with contralateral breast cancer surgery. The primary outcome was the technical success rate of ART needle localization confirmed by US immediately after the procedure, and the secondary outcomes were the percentage of clear margins on pathology and the complication rate of ART needle localization. RESULTS: The technical success rate of ART needle localization was 96.2% (25 of 26 patients), and the ART was located 1 cm away from the mass in one patient (3.8%). The lesions were successfully removed with clear margins in all 26 patients. No significant complications related to ART needle localization were observed. CONCLUSION: ART needle localization can be an alternative to wire needle localization for nonpalpable breast lesions.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Needles ; Pathology ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the mammographic and sonographic differential features between pure (PT) and mixed tubular carcinoma (MT) of the breast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and May 2004, 17 PTs and 14 MTs were pathologically confirmed at our institution. The preoperative mammography (n = 26) and sonography (n = 28) were analyzed by three radiologists according to BI-RADS. RESULTS: On mammography, a mass was not detected in eight patients with PT and in one patient with MT (57% vs. 8%, respectively, p = 0.021), which was statistically different. The other findings on mammography and sonography showed no statistical differences between the PT and MT, although the numerical values were different. When the lesions were detected mammographically, an irregularly shaped mass with a spiculated margin was more frequently found in the MT than in the PT (100% vs. 83%, respectively, p = 0.353). On sonography, all 28 patients presented with a mass and most lesions showed as not being circumscribed, hypoechoic masses with an echogenic halo. Surrounding tissue changes and posterior shadowing were more frequently found in the MT than in the PT (75% vs. 50%, respectively, p = 0.253, 58% vs. 19%, respectively, p = 1.000). An oval shaped mass was more frequently found in the PT than in the MT (44% vs. 25%, respectively; p = 0.434). CONCLUSION: PT and MT cannot be precisely differentiated on mammography and sonography. However, the absence of a mass on mammography or the presence of an oval shaped mass would favor the diagnosis of PT. An irregularly shaped mass with surrounding tissue change and posterior shadowing on sonography would favor the diagnosis of MT and also a less favorable prognosis.
Adenocarcinoma/pathology/*radiography/*ultrasonography ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography/*ultrasonography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early diagnosis of breast cancer with nonpalpable tumor. METHODS: Forty-six cases of clinical nonpalpable tumor were examined by mammography and sonography.The cases of nipple discharge were also examined by fiberoptic ductoscopy. RESULTS: Breast cancer in 46 cases was diagnosed by pathological examination. Of them, 34 diagnosed with breast cancer were found with nodus, calcification or confused structure, and so on, 5 were considered benign tumor, and 7 were not found lesion by mammography. Thirty-one cases were diagnosed with breast cancer, 6 with benign tumor, and 9 were not found occupying lesion by sonography. Occupying lesions were found in 6 cases of nipple discharge by fiberoptic ductoscopy and were finally diagnosed by biopsy. CONCLUSION Mammography and sonography are important methods in early discovering breast cancer. Early diagnosis rate of breast cancer can be elevated by signs of early breast cancer and combined examination of mammograply and sonography.
Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

The sonographic features of male breast lesions, which underwent ultrasound examination in our hospital for the past 10 years, were retrospectively analyzed. Sonographic features of these lesions were standardized as BI RADS image lexicon. The differences in ultrasonic malignant signs were assessed between the benign and the malig nant diseases. Between the two groups, incomplete boundary was statistically different. The specificity was above 95% within the two groups in terms of speculated margin, echogenic halo, calcification, axillary lymphadenopathy, thickening of skin and eccentric of mass to the nipple. High-frequency sonographic examination has a high level of differential diagnosis for male breast lesions.
Breast ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms, Male ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the use of an ultrasonography (US)-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy for microcalcifications of breast lesions and to evaluate the efficacy of the use of US-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy with long-term follow-up results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: US-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy cases of breast lesions that were performed between 2002 and 2006 for microcalcifications were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 62 breast lesions were identified where further pathological confirmation was obtained or where at least two years of mammography follow-up was obtained. These lesions were divided into the benign and malignant lesions (benign and malignant group) and were divided into underestimated group and not-underestimated lesions (underestimated and not-underestimated group) according to the diagnosis after a vacuum-assisted biopsy. The total number of specimens that contained microcalcifications was analyzed and the total number of microcalcification flecks as depicted on specimen mammography was analyzed to determine if there was any statistical difference between the groups. RESULTS: There were no false negative cases after more than two years of follow-up. Twenty-nine lesions were diagnosed as malignant (two invasive carcinomas and 27 carcinoma in situ lesions). Two of the 27 carcinoma in situ lesions were upgraded to invasive cancers after surgery. Among three patients diagnosed with atypical ductal hyperplasia, the diagnosis was upgraded to a ductal carcinoma in situ after surgery in one patient. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of specimens with microcalcifications and the total number of microcalcification flecks between the benign group and malignant group of patients and between the underestimated group and not-underestimated group of patients. CONCLUSION: US-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy can be an effective alternative to stereotactic-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy in cases where microcalcifications are visible with the use of high-resolution US.
Adult ; Aged ; *Biopsy/methods ; Breast/*pathology ; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Calcinosis/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; *Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; Vacuum