OBJECTICE: To compare the use of conventional, real-time compound, and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging in the evaluation of breast nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two breast nodules were included in this study, conducted between May and December 2000, in which conventional, real-time compound, and pulse-inversion harmonic images were obtained in the same plane. Three radiologists, each blinded to the interpretations of the other two, evaluated the findings, characterizing the lesions and ranking the three techniques from grade 1, the worst, to grade 3, the best. Lesion conspicuity was assessed, and lesions were also characterized in terms of their margin, clarity of internal echotexture, and clarity of posterior echo pattern. The three techniques were compared using Friedman's test, and interobserver agreement in image interpretation was assessed by means of the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: With regard to lesion conspicuity, margin, and internal echotexture of the nodules, real-time compound imaging was the best technique (p < 0.05); in terms of posterior echo pattern, the best was pulse-inversion harmonic imaging (p < 0.05). Real-time compound and pulse inversion harmonic imaging were better than conventional sonography in all evaluative aspects. Interobserver agreement was greater than moderate. CONCLUSION: Real-time compound and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging procedures are superior to conventional sonography in terms of both lesion conspicuity and the further characterization of breast nodules. Real-time compound imaging is the best technique for evaluation of the margin and internal echotexture of nodules, while pulse-inversion harmonic imaging is very effective for the evaluation of the posterior echo patterns.
Breast Neoplasms/*ultrasonography ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Fibrocystic Disease of Breast/*ultrasonography ; Human ; Middle Age ; Ultrasonography, Mammary/*methods

Since breast ultrasonography (US) has been used as an adjunctive screening modality in women with dense breasts, the need has arisen to evaluate and monitor its possible harm and benefits in comparison with other screening modalities such as mammography. Recently, the fifth edition of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System published by the American College of Radiology has suggested auditing methods for screening breast US. However, the method proposed therein is slightly different from how diagnostic performance was calculated in previous studies on screening breast US. In this article, the background and core aspects of medical audits of breast cancer screening will be reviewed to provide an introduction to the medical auditing of screening breast US, with the goal of helping radiologists to understand and identify potential ways to improve outcomes.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Mammography ; Mass Screening* ; Medical Audit* ; Methods ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

This paper proposes an improved C-V model, which can avoid the step of re-initialization and simplify the formation of the initial level set function, thus the speed of segmentation can be accelerated greatly. Furthermore, based on the grayscale distribution characteristics of the breast tumor ultrasound images and on the hypothesis of piecewise constant in the C-V model, a semiautomatic segmentation flow has been presented, in which the rough contour is sketched first, and then a subimage would be obtained for the refined segmentation algorithm. This flow has improved not only the accuracy, but also the efficiency of the segmentation algorithm. The experiments show that the proposed algorithm could extract the contour of the breast tumor from the ultrasound images efficiently and accurately, which is fundamentally important for the following target feature extraction and analysis.
Algorithms ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; methods

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.
Ultrasonography, Mammary/methods ; Recurrence ; Middle Aged ; Mammography/methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Humans ; Hemorrhage/*diagnosis/ultrasonography ; Female ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cysts/*diagnosis/ultrasonography ; Carcinoma, Papillary/*diagnosis/ultrasonography ; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis/ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the underestimation of papillary breast lesions diagnosed at ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

METHODSTotally 4453 ultrasound-guided visible breast lesions that were identified in the Department of Ultrasound, Chinese PLA General Hospital, from April 2005 to April 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Of 207 papillary lesions that were detected by histologic findings of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy(US-CNB), 90 underwent surgical excision, 110 were followed up for at least one year, and 7 were lost to follow-up. The histological findings of the US-CNB and the findings of surgical excision were compared to analyze the underestimation rates according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System(BI-RADS)categories of American College of Radiology(ACR)and biopsy methods.

RESULTSOf the 90 papillary lesions underwent surgical excision, 29(32.2%)were underestimated, and 22 malignant lesions were underestimated(24.4%). Of the 23 papillomata with atypical ductal hyperplasia(IDP+ADH), 11(47.8%)were upgraded to malignant. Of the 137 benign intraductal papilloma(IDP)with concordance imaging-histologic findings, 8 lesions were underestimated(5.8%), whereas 10 out of 25(40.0%)IDP with diacordant imaging-histologic findings were underestimated. In total, 17.9% understimation were biopsied by 18G core needle biopsy(CNB)(P=0.017)and 16.0% by 16G CNB(P=0.023), which were significantly higher than vacuum-assisted biopsy(VAB).

CONCLUSIONSVAB is more accurate than 16G or 18G CNB in detecting papillary breast lesions. For high underestimations of IDP+ADH and IDP with discordant imaging-histologic findings, VAB or surgical excisions should be performed.

Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

This paper proposes an algorithm of evaluating the compression depth, and then to extract four normalized mammary elasticity characteristic parameters with respect to the compression depth. The classification experiments show that these elasticity parameters have a good capability in determining whether the tumor is benign or malignant, and if combined with morphological parameters, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity can be improved and increased to 95.19%, 98.82% and 92.16%, respectively.
Algorithms ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of microbubble-enhanced ultrasound (MEUS) for detecting perforators preoperatively in supraclavicular flap surgery.

METHODSFrom May 2009 to October 2013, there were 20 patients (26 flaps were involved) who planned to undergo supraclavicular artery based flap surgeries to recover the large-area defects in head and neck. The MEUS together with regular color Doppler ultrasound ( CDUS) were conducted preoperatively to determine the anatomical features of perforators branching from supraclavicular arteries (SCA). The perforator with wider caliber, faster flow speed, longer pedicles and closer pivot point was selected and the flap was designed according to the observed results.

RESULTSThere were 37 perforators of SCA detected by CDUS, whose calibers were ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 mm [Mean: (0.6 ± 0.1) mm]. There were 48 perforators of SCA detected by MEUS. Compared to CDUS, the caliber obtained from MEUS for same vessel is significantly increased [(0.7 ± 0.3) mm vs (0.6 ± 0.1) mm, P < 0.05]. According to the results of MEUS and three-dimensional reconstructive techniques, in at least 65.4% (17/26) of the flaps, thoracic branch of SCA (TBSA) has large caliber and good flow velocity which can be regarded as the predominant vessel and used as the pedicle of flap. The results of the operations confirmed the existences of all the marked vessels. 25 flaps were obtained according to the preoperative plans and one case used perforators of internal mammary artery as free flaps since the perforator of SCA was found improper. The contrast-related complication occurred in one patient which was manifested by gastrointestinal adverse effect like nausea and anorexia. The patient recovered 1 day later without treatment. All the patients have been followed up for 3 to 16 months (Mean: 8 months) with well-survived flaps.

CONCLUSIONSThe perforators of SCA demonstrated significant variations and preoperative mapping was vital for the success of surgery. MEUS is a valuable imaging modality for the preoperative assessment of the vascular supply for supraclavicular artery based flap.

Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries ; Microbubbles ; Neck ; surgery ; Perforator Flap ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Ultrasonography ; methods

An accurate edge extraction method for the ultrasound breast tumor image is useful for classifying tumors as benign or malignant. This paper refers to a fast technique to extract edge of breast tumor from ultrasound image. This method uses the triangular fuzzy number to build up a fuzzy number plane whose basic unit is the marching square. It is possible to visualize at once the results obtained using different presumption levels. Experiments of benign and malignant breast tumor in ultrasound images have shown that our method can extract the breast tumor edge faster than many conventional methods can do separately, and the results are reliable and credible. Our experiments demonstrate that it can be efficiently used to extract the edge of breast tumor from the ultrasound image.
Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Fuzzy Logic ; Humans ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; methods

The paper reviewed the development history, current application and technical features of 3D ultrasound and 3D breast ultrasound. 3D ultrasound is used in breast screening methods. Special 3D breast ultrasound equipment can enhance breast characteristics, corresponding the breast characteristics to carry out technological innovation and improvement, provide more accurate and convenient way to inspect breast.
Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Ultrasonography, Mammary ; methods

OBJECTIVE: Ultrasound-guided needle localization has been used prior to the surgical excision of nonpalpable breast lesions. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of the use of a saline immersion specimen ultrasound technique (immersion-US) to confirm the successful removal of breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The devised immersion-US technique was used to examine the excised tissues of 72 ultrasound-guided needle localized breast lesions of 58 patients (34 benign lesions, 30 high-risk lesions and 8 malignant lesions). Freshly excised specimens were placed in a container filled with saline and one radiologist scanned the surgically excised specimens using a high-frequency linear transducer. We evaluated successful lesion removal and the qualities of the immersion-US images. Miss rates were determined by the use of postoperative ultrasound during follow-up. RESULTS: All 72 lesions were identified by the use of immersion-US and satisfactory or excellent quality images were obtained for most lesions (70/72, 97%). Five (7%) lesions were initially identified as incompletely excised, based on the immersion-US findings, and prompt re-excision was undertaken. Follow-up ultrasound examinations showed no residual mass in the surgical field in any patient. CONCLUSION: The immersion-US technique was found straightforward and efficient to perform. Immersion-US was able to determine whether nonpalpable breast lesions had been successfully excised after ultrasound-guided needle localization.
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle/methods ; Breast Neoplasms/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Immersion ; Mammography ; Mastectomy ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Ultrasonography/*methods ; Ultrasonography, Mammary/methods