BMC Medical Imaging (Aug 2024)

Evaluation of the intramammary distribution of breast lesions detected by MRI but not conventional second-look B-mode ultrasound using an MRI/ultrasound fusion technique

  • Masayuki Saito,
  • Hirona Banno,
  • Yukie Ito,
  • Mirai Ido,
  • Manami Goto,
  • Takahito Ando,
  • Yukako Mouri,
  • Junko Kousaka,
  • Kimihito Fujii,
  • Tsuneo Imai,
  • Shogo Nakano,
  • Kojiro Suzuki

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-024-01369-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the intramammary distribution of MRI-detected mass and focus lesions that were difficult to identify with conventional B-mode ultrasound (US) alone. Consecutive patients with lesions detected with MRI but not second-look conventional B-mode US were enrolled between May 2015 and June 2023. Following an additional supine MRI examination, we performed third-look US using real-time virtual sonography (RVS), an MRI/US image fusion technique. We divided the distribution of MRI-detected mammary gland lesions as follows: center of the mammary gland versus other (superficial fascia, deep fascia, and atrophic mammary gland). We were able to detect 27 (84%) of 32 MRI-detected lesions using third-look US with RVS. Of these 27 lesions, 5 (19%) were in the center of the mammary gland and 22 (81%) were located in other areas. We were able to biopsy all 27 lesions; 8 (30%) were malignant and 19 (70%) were benign. Histopathologically, three malignant lesions were invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC; luminal A), one was IDC (luminal B), and four were ductal carcinoma in situ (low-grade). Malignant lesions were found in all areas. During this study period, 132 MRI-detected lesions were identified and 43 (33%) were located in the center of the mammary gland and 87 (64%) were in other areas. Also, we were able to detect 105 of 137 MRI-detected lesions by second-look conventional-B mode US and 38 (36%) were located in the center of the mammary gland and 67 (64%) were in other areas. In this study, 81% of the lesions identified using third-look US with RVS and 64% lesions detected by second-look conventional-B mode US were located outside the center of the mammary gland. We consider that adequate attention should be paid to the whole mammary gland when we perform third-look US using MRI/US fusion technique.

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