Objective To retrospectively study the value of ultrasonography in diagnosing breast lymphoma and compare with mammography and MRI. Methods Imaging characteristics of 26 patients who were pathologically comfirmed as breast lymphoma were reviewed, including ultrasonography,mammography and MRI, and compare the diagnostic accuracy among the three. Results Twenty-four patients underwent ultrasonography and 32 lesions were found, with longest diameters averaged 30 mm.Tumors were mostly hypoechoic or very hypoechoic (81.3％), some were lobular (25.0％) or oval (21.9 ％ ) in shape, the margins were most frequently circumcribed (62. 5 ％ ), and a few tumors showed an echogenic boundary (18.8 ％ ). Color Doppler imaging showed hypervascularity in most tumors (59.4 ％ ).Ninteen patients undewent mammography, 15 solitary lesions were identified in 12 patients, asymmetric density in five,punctate calcification in one,and no abnormality in one. Eleven lesions were identified in MRI of 10 patients, 10 lesions showed hypointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, and heterogeneous enhancement after contrast. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography,mammography and MRI was 83％, 52％ and 100％, respectively. Conclusions The sonograms of breast lymphoma have some distinct features, the combination of ultrasonography and MRI might benefit the diagnosis of breast lymphoma.

Objective To study ultrasound features of breast cancer before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and its correlation with histopathology. Methods One hundred and nine patients with breast cancer underwent paclitaxel plus carboplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the change of the primary lesions and axillary lymph nodes were studied by ultrasound,and compared with histopathology. Results Seventeen patients achieved complete remission under ultrasound, the rest measurable lesions became significantly shortened in maximum diameter [ ( 22.46 ± 11.50) mm vs (34. 71 ± 13.67) mm, P ＜ 0. 001 ], and showed decrease both in longitudinal-transverse ratio (0. 80 ± 0. 23 vs 0. 86 ± 0. 22, P ＞0. 05) and grades of blood flow (0. 51 ± 0.80 vs 1.23± 1.05, P ＜0. 001 ). 44. 83% (44/92) of metastatic axillary lymph nodes disapeared after treatment. Comparing with histopathology, the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound assessing complete remission were 57. 89 % ( 11 / 19) and 93.33 % (84/90), respectively. The moderate concord between ultrasound with histopathology might be attributed to the pathologic change of breast tissue and stroma after treatment, nevertheless grades of blood flow might be more meaningful. Conclusions Ultrasound assessment of neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic response might be of reference value,and studying corresponding ultrasonic manifestation of different kinds of pathological changes would help with better evaluation.

Objective To investigate the value of shear wave elastography (SWE)for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Methods A total of 1 56 patients referred for surgery of thyroid nodules underwent standard ultrasound as well as elastography.The following characteristics of all the nodules were assessed:location,size,shape,margin,echogenicity,calcification and blood flow.The SWE elasticity indices of maximum (Emax),mean (Emean),minimum (Emin),and standard deviation (Esd) were automatically calculated by the US system.Thresholds were calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC ) curve analysis.The diagnostic performance of conventional US and SWE were compared.Histopathologic examination was used as the reference standard.Results Among a total of 1 56 nodules,1 1 8 were malignant and 38 were benign.SWE elasticity indices were significantly higher in malignant than in benign nodules (P ≤0.001 ).Sensitivity and specificity for predicting malignancy were 83.9%,92.1 % respectively using Emean with a threshold of 32.1 kPa,the specificity was significantly higher than using conventional ultrasound (P <0.05 ).Area under the ROC curve (Az)of Emean was highest (0.880,95% CI:0.81 7,0.943),however the differences were not significant(P >0.05).Conclusions SWE provides higher specificity for predicting malignancy without losing sensitivity.

Objective To analyze the ultrasonographic characteristics of breast cystic-solid lesions and to investigate the diagnostic value of BI-RADS breast imaging reporting and data system in this kind of disease Methods Imaging characteristics of 105 breast cystic-solid lesions of 93 patients were analyzed All the lesions were assessed by BI-RADS Histopathologic examination was used as the reference standard Results Among 105 lesions 57 54 3% were benign and 48 45 7% were malignant Differences in orientation shape margin calcification and vascularity were statistically significant between the benign and malignant lesions P < 0 05 whereas the echo pattern and the posterior acoustic feature did not show significant differences P >0 05).There were 5 1 predominantly solid mass,which appeared as solid mass with little dispersed or centralized cystic regions or solid mass with surrounding cystic regions,including 33 benign lesions and 1 8 malignant lesions.The area under the curves of ROC was 0.956 in this type.There were 25 lesions predominantly cystic,which had regular or irregular thick walls or septa,or had nodules protruding to the cystic component,including 1 1 benign lesions and 14 malignant lesions.The area under the curves of ROC was 0.753.There were 29 mixed solid-cystic mass,in which the solid component equaled to the cystic,including 13 benign lesions and 16 malignant lesions.The area under the curves of ROC was 0.887.The area under curves of ROC was 0.873 for the all breast cystic-solid lesions.The rates of malignant cystic-solid lesions in the three types had no significant difference(P >0.05).Conclusions Ultrasound is a useful tool for diagnosing breast cystic-solid lesions.The proportion of the cystic component is not helpful to differentiate malignancy from benignancy.

Objective To evaluate the ultrasonographic ( US ) findings of granulomatous lobular mastitis( GLM ) ,and to compare the diagnostic accuracy among US ,mammographic ,and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) . Methods Imaging characteristics of 56 patients who were pathologically comfirmed as GLM were reviewed .All the lesions were assessed by BI‐RADS ( Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) . Results Fifty‐eight lesions were found in 56 patients . Thirty ( 51 .7% ) were irregular ,20 (34 .5% ) were lobular and 8(13 .8% ) were round or oval in shape . Forty two lesions (72 .4% ) were hypoechoic ,14 (24 .1% ) were mixed echoic textur ,including 6 lesions (10 .3% ) with tubular connections and 8 lesions ( 13 .8% ) with irregular markly hypoechoic internal echoes . Two ( 3% ) were isoechoic .No calcification were found . Color Doppler signals were detected in 33 cases(56 .9% ) ,and the resistance index ( RI) ranged from 0 .61 to 0 .79 . Forty patients underwent mammography ,there were no distinct lesions in 6 cases(15% ) ,suspicious calcification in two(5% ) , asymmetric density in twenty(50% ) ,and solitary masses in twelve(30% ) . MRI was performed in 36 patients ,and revealed no abnormality in two patients(5 .6% ) , twenty nine lesions ( 80 .6% ) showed hypointensity on T1‐weighted images and hyperimensity on T2‐weighted images ,five lesions ( 13 .9% ) showed isointensity on T1‐weighted images and hyperimensity on T2‐weighted images ,and all the lesions showed heterogeneous enhancement after contrast .The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography , mammography and MRl was 63 .8% , 45% and 61 .1% , respectively . Conclusions There were no specific imaging characteristics of GLM ,the combination of ultrasonography , mammography and MRI might benefit the diagnosis of GLM .

Objective To investigate the efficacy of concomitant precise hemihepateetomy for the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods The clinical data of 38 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma who received concomitant precise hemihepatectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2009 to October 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were examined by B ultrasonography,computed tomography (CT),magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and CT angiography (CTA)preoperatively.The hepatic function was tested before operation.Of the 7 patients with obstructive jaundice,5 received percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage,and 2 received endoscopic nosalbiliary drainage.Surgical procedures were determined according to the results of imaging examination.The resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma,postoperative histopathological examination,pre-and postoperative hepatic function and prognostic indicators were analyzed.The count data and measurement data were analyzed using the chi-square test and t test,respectively; the survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival rate was analyzed using the Log-rank test.COX proportion hazards model was used for multivariate analysis.Results The positive rates of B ultrasonography,CT and MRCP were 65.8％ (25/38),71.1％ (27/38) and 89.5％ (34/38),respectively.The results of 5 patients who received CTA were positive.Concomitant left hemihepatectomy was performed on 28 patients,concomitant right hemihepatectomy on 10 patients; concomitant caudate lobectomy on 22 patients,concomitant resection and reconstruction of portal vein on 4 patients (including 1 patient who received left hepatic vein repair),concomitant hepatic artery resection on 12 patients (including 3 patients who received hepatic artery reconstruction).Of the 38 patients,R0 resection was performed on 32 patients,R1 resection on 4 patients,R2 resection on 2 patients.Hepatic function indicators including total bilirubin,direct bilirubin,alkaline phosphatase,gamma-glutamyl-transferase,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly decreased after operation (t =7.799,8.445,5.697,6.633,4.469,4.140,P ＜ 0.05).Two patients died perioperatively,with the mortality rate of 5.3％ (2/38).The main postoperative complications included bile leakage and hepatic function insufficiency,with the incidences of 28.9％ (11/38) and 21.1％ (8/38),respectively.Postoperative histopathological findings included 31 patients with invasive adenocarcinoma,5 patients with nodular adenocarcinoma,1 patient with mucinous adenocarcinoma and 1 patient with adenosquamous carcinoma.The overall 1-,2-,3-year survival rates were 66％,37％ and 21％,and the median survival time was 22.0 months.There were significant differences in the survival rates between patients who received R0 resection and those with R1/R2 resection,and between patients with N0 and N1/N2 stage (x2 =4.516,10.397,P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that positive margin and lymph node metastasis were prognostic indicators.Conclusions Concomitant precise hemihepatectomy has significantly improved the radical resection rate and the efficacy of treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Comprehensive preoperative imaging examination and hepatic function test are important for the assessment for resectability of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Selective preoperative biliary drainage are key points to decrease postoperative morbidity and morality.

Objective To retrospectively study the anisotropy of shear wave elastography (SWE)quantitative parameters of breast lesions,and the correlation with histopathology.Methods A total of 281 consecutive women with 281 breast lesions (179 malignant,102 benign) were included,who underwent conventional ultrasound (US) and 2D SWE before surgical excision.Three acquisitions each for transverse and longitudinal planes were obtained,and maximum elasticity (Emax),mean elasticity (Emean),standard deviation (Esd) of the whole lesion and ratio between the elasticity in the mass and the fatty tissue (Eratio)were recorded.Anisotropic difference (AD) and anisotropy factors (AF) were calculated,and correlation with histopathology was analyzed.Results The average Emax,Emean and Esd of transverse planes were significantly higher than those of longitudinal planes.AF showed positive correlation with quantitative elasticity (Emax,Emean,Esd and Eratio) (P =0.000),and was significantly higher in malignant lesions than that in benign besions (P =0.000).AUC of AF was significantly higher than that of AD (P ＜0.001).AF was significantly higher in invasive ductal carcinoma than that in ductal carcinoma in situ.Higher AF was associated with higher histopathological grades of invasive ductal carcinoma (P =0.000),and correlated with ER/PR(+).Conclusions Anisotropy of SWE is an indicator of malignancy of breast lesions,and is of predictive value for prognosis in breast cancer.

Objective To retrospectively study the quantitative features and diagnostic value of 3-dimensional shear wave elastography (3D-SWE) in breast lesions.Methods A total of 198 consecutive women with 198 breast lesions (125 malignant,73 benign) were included,who underwent conventional ultrasound (US) and 3D-SWE before surgical excision.Quantitative parameters of transverse planes,sagittal planes and coronal planes were calculated,including maximum elasticity (Emax-w),mean elasticity (Emean-w),standard deviation (Esd) of the whole lesion and ratio between the stiffest elasticity (Emean-s)in the lesion and the fatty tissue (Eratio).Area under ROC curve(AUC) for combination of quantitative parameters and US were calculated.Results The AUC,sensitivity and specificity for US were 0.919,88.0％ and 78.1 ％,respectively.In the total 198 lesions,Emax-w,Emean-w,Esd,Eratio and Emean s were significantly lower in coronal planes than those in transverse and sagittal planes (all P ＜0.001).AUC for combination of each quantitative parameter and US were significantly higher than those of US (all P ＜0.05),except Emean-w of transverse plane,while there was no significant difference among the three orthogonal plane (P＞0.05).Sensitivity significantly increased by combining US with Emean-s,Eratio (transverse,sagittal and coronal planes),Emean-w (coronal and sagittal planes) or Esd (coronal and transverse planes) (all P＜0.05).Combination of US and Emean w of coronal plane yielded significantly higher sensitivity than those of transverse and sagittal planes.Conclusions Combination of quantitative features of 3D-SWE and US can significantly increase diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity in breast lesions.Emean-w of coronal plane yields the highest sensitivity.

Objective To investigate the relationship of greyscale ultrasonographic signs and clinical pathological characteristics with axillary lymph node metastasis in invasive breast cancer.Methods Three hundred and thirty-five patients with pathologically confirmed breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed,which categorized into 2 groups,including lymph node metastasis group and lymph node non-metastasis group.The clinical and pathological characteristics included age,primary tumor size,histological grade,and molecular subtypes.The ultrasonographic features were examined including orientation,shape,margin,echo pattern,posterior acoustic feature,and calcification.Chi-Square test and Logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the relationship of clinical pathological characteristics and greyscale ultrasonographic signs with axillary lymph node metastasis.Results Age (＜45 years),primary tumor size (≥2 cm),histological grade(Ⅲ grade),molecular subtype (Luminal B),and number of margin angulation (＞ 10) contributed to axillary lymph node metastasis in 335 cases,according to univariate analysis (P ＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed age (OR =0.573,P =0.019),the primary tumor size (OR=2.359,P =0.001),histological grade (OR=0.529,P =0.008),and number of marginangulation (OR =1.889,P =0.031) were risk factors of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.Conclusions Univariate and multivariate analyses show the correlation between ultrasonographic features and axillary lymph node involvement.Combining with clinical pathological data,it can provide a predictor of axillary lymph node metastasis.

Objective To investigate the influence of breast pure mucinous carcinoma size on sonographic characteristics and diagnostic accuracy.Methods Sonographic characteristics of 101 breast pure mucinous carcinoma in 1 00 patients were analyzed retrospectively.All lesions were divided into three groups according to maximum diameter at ultrasound.These were group Ⅰ with lesions less than 20 mm,group Ⅱwith lesions greater than or equal 20 mm,less than 40 mm,and group Ⅲ with lesions greater than or equal 40 mm.The relationship between lesions size and ultrasound parameters were analyzed.Results There were 38 lesions in group Ⅰ,52 lesions in group Ⅱ and 1 1 lesions in group Ⅲ.The patients age in group Ⅲwere older than that in group Ⅰ(F=3.442,P =0.036).Among these sonographic appearances,only shape (χ2=9.813,P =0.005)and blood flow (χ2=27.952,P =0.000)indicated significant differences.The accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis of breast cancer was 85.1%,the smaller the lesions were,the higher misdiagnosis rate the lesions were.Conclusions With lesions size increased,the lobular and internal blood flow of pure mucinous carcinoma increased.More smaller the lesions were,more higher misdiagnosis rate of lesions were.