Ultrasound Exam Could Reduce Breast Biopsies

If ultrasound is used to detect breast cancer, it may lead to a reduction in the number of biopsies needed, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, USA).

The study involved 141 women with 157 solid masses. Of these, 59 were identified by mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 98 were palpable. Ultrasound examinations were then performed by 11 radiologists specializing in breast imaging, who classified the masses prospectively as either benign or suspicious. In addition, they classified the masses by previously published criteria (Stavros criteria) that set guidelines for how a benign mass and a malignant mass appear on ultrasound.

The results showed that if the follow-up of patients had been based on the radiologists' diagnoses following ultrasound, 38 fewer biopsies would have been performed, reducing the biopsy rate by 28%. Moreover, no cancers would have been missed, since the radiologists classified all 55 cancers as suspicious based both on their own criteria and the Stavros criteria.

"With larger numbers of masses evaluated, we expect that a few cancers may appear benign on ultrasound,” noted Karen Hunt, M.D., senior staff radiologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Ann Arbor and lead author of the study. "We expect this to be quite rare, so imaging surveillance can be safely offered as an alternative to biopsy. Ultrasound is a reliable test that should be part of the approach to diagnosing these patients.” The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society in Atlanta (ARRS, GA, USA; www.arrs.org).




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