3D digital breast tomosynthesis versus US in evaluating breast asymmetries

Abstract

Background

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) now become one of the available diagnostic imaging modalities of the breast, and the present study was done to evaluate its diagnostic value versus that of breast ultrasound (US) in the evaluation of breast asymmetries. This study included 51 patients with 57 mammography identified breast asymmetries; their ages were ranged from 26 to 72 years (mean age 50.05 ± 8.1 SD). For all patients, both digital breast tomosynthesis and ultrasound were done, and their results were compared.

Results

Tomosynthesis in this study showed better diagnostic performance compared to mammography; the sensitivity of tomosynthesis was 83.33%, the specificity was 89.74%, the positive predictive value was 78.95%, the negative predictive value was 92.11%, and the accuracy was 87.71% while the sensitivity of mammography was 72.22%, the specificity was 71.79%, the positive predictive value was 54.17%, the negative predictive value was 84.85 %, and the accuracy was 71.92 %.

Breast ultrasound showed the highest sensitivity in this study with the sensitivity of ultrasound being 100.00 %, the specificity being 92.31%, the positive predictive value being 85.71%, the negative predictive value being 100.00%, and the accuracy being 94.73%.

Conclusion

Tomosynthesis enables better depiction of asymmetries. It can be useful in the screening setting where better lesion detection and accurate description of lesions is desired. Therefore, it can detect more cancers and can reduce the number of biopsies.

Breast ultrasound should be coupled with breast mammography and 3D tomosynthesis in the evaluation of the breast asymmetries as it reduces false-negative results, detects solid and cystic lesions, and assesses solid lesion nature.

Background

Although there is clearly a wide variation in breast size and parenchymal pattern, the breasts have fairly symmetric internal structures with similar densities and architectures at mammography, while asymmetric breast densities are relatively frequently seen at screening mammography [1].

Asymmetric breast tissue is usually benign and secondary to variations in normal breast tissue, postoperative change, or hormone replacement therapy. However, an asymmetric area may indicate a developing mass or an underlying cancer [2].

There are different types of asymmetries. If a finding is seen originally on only one standard screening view, it is called Single-View Asymmetry [3]. A Global asymmetry is an asymmetry which involves a greater volume of breast tissue [1]. A focal asymmetry is a focal mammographic abnormality visible on at least two different mammographic projections [3]. A developing asymmetry is a focal asymmetry that is new or increasing in size or conspicuity compared with prior studies [3].

Breast cancer risk in a developing asymmetry is sufficient to recommend biopsy (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) even in the absence of a sonographic correlate [3]. Breast ultrasonography (US) has long been used as a popular problem-solving diagnostic tool, as it is widely available and well-tolerated by patients [4].

Digital breast tomosynthesis is an advanced technique that offers a potential advantage for evaluation of masses, areas of architectural distortion, and asymmetries compared with conventional two-dimensional mammographic images [5].

The aim of the work is to evaluate the diagnostic value of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) versus US in the evaluation of breast asymmetries regarding the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy.

Methods

This prospective study was conducted at the radiology department and included 51 patients who performed diagnostic or screening mammograms during the period from August 2015 to February 2016. Their mammograms showed breast asymmetries, which were unilateral in 44 cases and bilateral in 7 cases. Their ages ranged from 26 to 72 years (mean age 50.05 ± 8.1 SD). Mammography was done for young patients because they had high-risk family history and complaints of lump-like lesion, so exclusion of microcalcifications by mammography was important for them.

Inclusion criteria were patients with only breast asymmetries in mammography.

Exclusion criteria were contraindication to mammography, e.g., pregnant women and in patients presenting with mass lesions or only calcifications.

All patients were subjected to the following:

• 1. Demographic and clinical data collection: Including patient’s name, age, marital status and number of offspring, residence, phone number, diagnosis, duration of illness, past history, and family history.

• 2. Imaging procedure: All patients underwent digital mammography, 3D tomosynthesis (mediolateral-oblique (MLO) and cranial-caudal (CC) views), and breast ultrasound.

Equipment

• 1. Mammographic examination was performed using the Senographe Essential, GE healthcare Full-Field Digital Mammography machine that was upgraded to provide tomosynthesis. Senographe Essential has dual anode (rhodium molybdenum) with CsI digital detector.

• 2. The ultrasound examination was performed using LOGIQ™P5 ultrasound scanner (GE Health care) linear array electronic probe.

Technique of full-field digital mammography

Standard views, mediolateral-oblique and craniocaudal, were taken for all patients.

Technique of 3D tomosynthesis

For 3D digital tomosynthesis, two views (MLO and CC) were obtained. 3D DBT involved the acquisition of 12 to 15 2D projection exposures by a digital detector from a mammographic x-ray source which moves over a limited arc angle. The 3D volume of compressed breast was reconstructed from the 2D projections in the form of series of images (slices) through the entire breast. Images were assessed in the workstation.

Technique of breast ultrasound

Radial scanning of the entire breast and axillary tail of both sides was performed with the patient’s arm relaxed and flexed behind the head. Medial lesions were scanned in the supine position, and lateral lesions, including the axilla, were scanned with the patient in the contralateral oblique position. Longitudinal and transverse images of breast lesions were obtained.

Image analysis and interpretation of mammography and tomosynthesis

Image interpretation was done by two radiologists, one of them with more than 20 years of experience and the other with more than 10 years of experience in mammography. Breast density was assessed for each patient. Each asymmetry was evaluated regarding site and type of asymmetry (one view, focal, global asymmetry). The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) category of each lesion was determined according to the BIRADS atlas 2013 guided by the results of clinical data and mammographic findings but blind to final pathologic diagnosis. Tomosynthesis was also interpreted by the radiologists in the same way as mammography

Image analysis and interpretation of breast ultrasound

Each lesion was evaluated regarding shape, boundary, margin, echo pattern, orientation and posterior acoustic features, calcifications, and axillary lymph nodes. The BIRADS category of each lesion was determined according to BIRADS atlas of Ultrasound 2013, guided by the results of clinical data and breast ultrasound findings but blinded to the final pathological diagnosis.

Reference points for us were histopathological analysis of biopsy and surgical samples, fine-needle aspiration cytology, or close follow-up.

Results

The study included 51 patients who performed mammography examination with identified breast asymmetries. All patients performed full-field digital mammography, 3D tomosynthesis, and ultrasound.

Their ages ranged from 26 to 72 years with a mean age 50.05 ± 8.1 (mean ± SD). Young-aged females came to the mammography department as they were complaining of pain with high-risk family history (two first-degree relatives).

Breast density ACR scoring

As described and represented in Fig. 1, Breast density ACR scoring was done according to the ACR BIRADS lexicon breast density classification [6], noting that ACR A = entirely fatty breast, ACR B = scattered fibro-glandular density, ACR C = heterogeneously dense breast, and ACR D = extremely dense breast.

Fig. 1

Distribution of cases according to the ACR BIRADS lexicon breast density classification

Final diagnosis was according to histopathological analysis of biopsy and surgical samples, fine-needle aspiration cytology, or close follow-up. Close follow-up was done for lesions with mostly benign diagnostic imaging criteria, and we did it after 3 months of using US. They were divided into benign and malignant lesions. Benign lesions were 18 (about 31.6%) while the malignant lesions were 39 (about 68.4%)

The different pathological entities within the “benign lesions” group are seen in Table 1.

Table 1 The distribution of different pathological entities within the benign and malignant lesions

The most common pathological type in malignant lesions was ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). The different pathological entities within the “malignant lesions” group are seen in Table 1.

Types of asymmetries by mammography

Patients were divided into four groups according to the type of asymmetry: simple asymmetry, focal asymmetry, global asymmetry, and developing asymmetry, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Distribution of asymmetries according to mammography findings

The distribution of benign and malignant lesions within the different types of asymmetries is shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Distribution of benign and malignant lesions within the different types of asymmetries

The BIRADS Categories by finding include mammography, 3D digital breast tomosynthesis, ultrasonography, combined digital breast mammography and 3D tomosynthesis, and finally combined digital breast mammography, 3D tomosynthesis, and breast ultrasonography, all of which were described in Tables 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively.

Table 3 The BI-RADS categories by mammography

Table 4 showing the BI-RADS categories by Tomosynthesis

Table 5 showing the BI-RADS categories by breast ultrasound

Table 6 The BI-RADS categories by combined digital breast mammography and 3D Tomosynthesis

Table 7 showing the BI-RADS categories by combined digital breast Mammography, 3D Tomosynthesis & Breast ultrasound

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 described the correlation between the diagnostic imaging findings. The final diagnosis mentions how many cases per each (by histopathological analysis of biopsy and surgical samples, fine-needle aspiration cytology, or close follow-up). They describe the diagnostic imaging findings in mammography, 3D digital breast tomosynthesis, ultrasonography, (combined digital breast mammography and 3D tomosynthesis), and finally (combined digital breast mammography, 3D tomosynthesis, and breast ultrasonography).

Fig. 3

Association between mammography findings and final diagnoses in the studied group

Fig. 4

Association between tomosynthesis findings and final diagnoses in the studied group

Fig. 5

Association between ultrasound findings and final diagnosis in the studied group

Fig. 6

Association between combined digital breast mammography and 3D tomosynthesis findings and final diagnoses in the studied group

Fig. 7

Association between combined digital breast mammography, tomosynthesis and breast ultrasound findings, and final diagnoses in the studied group

Based on the previous results described in Tables 5, 6, and 7 and Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, the following statistical results were found: Sensitivity of mammography was 72.22%, the specificity was 71.79%, the positive predictive value was 54.17%, the negative predictive value was 84.85%, and the accuracy was 71.92%.

While the sensitivity of tomosynthesis is 83.33%, the specificity was 89.74%, the positive predictive value was 78.95%, the negative predictive value was 92.11%, and the accuracy was 87.71%.

As for breast ultrasound, the sensitivity was 100.00%, the specificity was 92.31%, the positive predictive value was 85.71%, the negative predictive value was 100.00%, and the accuracy was 94.73%.

In combined digital breast mammography and 3D tomosynthesis, it was found that the sensitivity was 83.33%, the specificity was 87.18%, the positive predictive value was 75.00%, the negative predictive value was 91.89%, and the accuracy was 85.96%.

In combined digital breast mammography, 3D tomosynthesis, and breast ultrasound, sensitivity was 100.00%, the specificity was 92.31%, the positive predictive value was 85.71%, the negative predictive value was 100.00%, and the accuracy was 94.73%.

We selected some cases to be presented as seen in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11.

Fig. 8

(Case no. 1) A 52-year-old patient presented by mastalgia and palpable mass in the left breast. Mammography revealed breast density: ACR B and left retro-areolar focal asymmetry assigned as (BIRADS 4) (a, b). 3D tomosynthesis revealed: left retro-areolar speculated mass lesion is seen (BIRADS5) (c, d). Breast ultrasound revealed: an irregular speculated hypoechoic mass lesion with posterior shadowing (BIRADS 5) (e). Final diagnosis: invasive duct carcinoma

Fig. 9

(Case no. 2) A 58-year-old patient with history of right breast conservative surgery and left mastalgia. Mammography revealed breast density: ACR B, right breast: single-view asymmetry (BIRADS 3) and left breast: global asymmetry (BIRADS 4) (a and b show CC and MLO views, respectively). 3D tomosynthesis was inconclusive in both sides (c MLO view). Breast ultrasound revealed: right breast: operative bed architecture distortion (BIRADS 2) (d) and left breast: well-defined thin wall hypoechoic cyst with posterior enhancement (BIRADS 2) (e). Final diagnosis: right breast postoperative changes and left breast fibrocystic changes

Fig. 10

(Case no. 3) A 48-year-old patient came for regular screening. Mammography revealed breast density: ACR C. and left upper outer quadrant focal asymmetry (BIRADS3) (a, b). 3D tomosynthesis revealed: left upper outer quadrant focal asymmetry (BIRADS 3), tomosynthesis did not add to the mammography (c, d). Breast ultrasound revealed: multiple well-defined variable-sized thin wall anechoic cysts with posterior enhancement, the largest measuring (3.5 × 1 cm) (BIRADS 2) (e). Final diagnosis: fibrocystic changes

Fig. 11

(Case no. 4) A 26-year-old patient. She came for mastalgia with high-risk positive family history (two first-degree relatives). Mammography revealed breast density: ACR C. Right upper outer quadrant focal asymmetry (BIRADS4) (a, b). 3D tomosynthesis revealed: right upper outer quadrant normal parenchymal tissue (BIRADS 1) (c). Breast ultrasound revealed hyperehoic parenchyma with mottling appearance denoting adenosis (BIRADS 1) (d). Final diagnosis: breast adenosis

Discussion

The term asymmetric breast tissue refers to a greater volume or density of breast tissue in one breast than in the corresponding area in the contralateral breast. Although asymmetry is often a normal finding, additional evaluation may sometimes be required. Asymmetry may be secondary to removal of tissue or to lack of development or more prominent parenchyma in one breast [2].

For more accurate work-up and diagnosis of soft tissue findings at mammography, the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) lexicon provides definitions for four different types of asymmetric breast findings: (1) single-view asymmetry, (2) global asymmetry, (3) focal asymmetry, and (4) developing asymmetry [3].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) versus US in the evaluation of breast asymmetries regarding the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy.

The study included 51 patients with 57 breast asymmetries seen on full-field digital mammography (FFDM). Their ages ranged from 26 to 72 years, mean age (50.05 ± 8.1 SD).

All patients underwent FFDM, DBT, and breast ultrasound.

In this study, 4/51 (7.84%) cases were assigned an ACR score of “A,” 16/51 (31.37%) cases were assigned an ACR score of “B,” 19/51 (37.25%) cases were assigned an ACR score of “C,” 12/51 (23.5%) were assigned an ACR score of “D.”

Regarding asymmetric findings in this study, 7/57 (12%) lesions presented as simple asymmetry, 41/57 (72%) lesions presented as focal asymmetry, 8/57 (14%) lesions presented as global asymmetry, and 1/57 (2%) lesions presented as developing asymmetry.

The majority of the breast asymmetries in the current study were secondary to benign lesions 39/57 (68.4%).

Our results are in accordance to that of Price et al. [3] who found that the majority of breast asymmetries prove to be benign pathologic entities secondary to focal fibrosis, fibrocystic change, fibroadenoma, and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH).

Upon correlating with final diagnosis by either by histopathological analysis of biopsy samples, fine-needle aspiration cytology, or close follow-up, there were 39/57 (68.4%) benign lesions and 18/57 (31.6%) malignant lesions.

Mammography results

Mammography BIRADS category was given for each lesion according to the BIRADS mammography morphology descriptors; 33/57 (58%) lesions were considered benign (BIRADS 1, 2, and 3), while 24/57 (42%) lesions were considered malignant (BIRADS 4 and 5).

After revising the pathology results, 13/18 (72.22%) lesions were true positives, 11/39 (28.21%) lesions were false positive, 5/18 (27.77%) lesions were false negatives, and 28/39 (71.79%) lesions were true negatives (as case in Fig. 11).

In this study, the false-positive results are due to overlapping of fibro-glandular tissue, increase breast density, or irregular margins of a benign lesion. The false-negative results are due to obscured malignant lesions in ACR C and D heterogeneous dense breast.

Pinto et al. [7] who compared between FFDM and DBT in 46 cases of breast asymmetries found that 19 (39.58%) did not change with DBT and 27 (60.41%) attenuated or disappeared. Therefore, they concluded that DBT can be useful in the differentiation between the asymmetries and the overlapping tissues, allowing a decrease in the number of unnecessary biopsies in these cases.

In this study, mammography had a sensitivity of 72.22%, a specificity of 71.79%, a positive predictive value of 54.17%, and a negative predictive value of 84.85 %.

Bae et al. (8) stated that mammography is the only screening test that has been proved to reduce breast cancer mortality. However, mammography has pitfalls as a breast imaging modality, with an overall sensitivity of 75–85%, which can decrease to 30–50% in women with dense breast tissue.

3D digital tomosynthesis results

A BIRADS category was given to lesions identified on 3D digital tomosynthesis according to the Mammography BIRADS Lexicon and accordingly 38/57 (67%) lesions were considered benign (BIRADS 1, 2, and 3), while 19/57 (33%) lesions were considered malignant.

After revising the pathology results, 15/18 (83.33%) lesions were true positives, 4/39 (10.25%) lesions were false positive, 3/18 (16.66%) lesions were false negatives, and 35/39 (89.74%) lesions were true negatives.

The false-positive results are less (4 instead of 11 cases) when compared to digital mammography. Tomosynthesis overcame the tissue overlap in focal asymmetries and was able to verify if there is an underlying mass or is it only overlapping fibro-glandular tissue. The false-positive results were due to dense breast or irregular margin of the lesions.

The false-negative results were diffuse subtle infiltration in two cases with diffuse edema and one case with a deeply seated lesion not included in the mammography film view.

Durand et al. [8] found that the use of tomosynthesis (2D+3D) compared with conventional mammography (2D) is associated with a lower recall rate of screening mammography, most often for asymmetries.

Nam et al. [9] stated that lesion characterization of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) was more specific than that of full-field digital mammography (FFDM), and focal asymmetry or mass terminology was more frequently used in DBT (53.6%) than in FFDM (17.1%), whereas asymmetry terminology was less frequently used in DBT (12.2%) than in FFDM (31.7%) by the informed radiologists.

In this study, tomosynthesis had a sensitivity of 83.33 %, a specificity of 89.74%, a positive predictive value of 78.95%, and a negative predictive value of 92.11%.

Peppard et al. [10] stated that DBT is often useful for evaluation of a focal asymmetry. It can be used to confirm and characterize a finding as a true asymmetry, dismiss it as a superimposition or reclassify it as a mass.

In a study by El Maadawy et al. [11] who used DBT for evaluation of focal mammographic asymmetry, DBT showed higher sensitivity (93.8%) for lesion visualization and differentiation of true lesions from summation artifacts than did spot compression imaging (50.2%).

Breast ultrasound results

Ultrasound BIRADS category was given for each lesion according to the BIRADS mammography morphology descriptors; 36/57 (63%) lesions were considered benign (BIRADS 1, 2, and 3), while 21/57 (37%) lesions were considered malignant.

After revising the pathology results, 18/18 (100.00%) lesions were true positives (as the case in Fig. 8), 3/39 (7.7%) lesions were false positive, we had no false-negative results, and 36/39 (92.30%) lesions were true negatives. The false-positive results included radial scar, extensive postoperative changes, and granulomatous mastitis). Those lesions are false positive as they had the same morphologic criteria of malignant mass lesion.

Bae et al. [12] stated that in the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) 6666 study, screening US had a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 84%.

In this study, ultrasound had a sensitivity of 100.00%, a specificity of 92.31%, a positive predictive value of 85.71%, and a negative predictive value of 100.00%.

Breast ultrasound in our study showed the highest sensitivity.

Song et al. [13] stated that lesion characteristics (e.g., isoechogenicity, deeply located lesions in large breasts, subtle features) and technical failures have previously been considered reasons for false-negative diagnoses at breast US.

Breast ultrasound proved to be valuable in the characterization of the asymmetric lesions and in further evaluation of abnormalities identified on other breast imaging modalities. It provides information on the internal matrix, shape, margins, and vascular patterns of mammographic asymmetric breast findings that help to differentiate benign from malignant masses with a fairly high degree of certainty. Ultrasound is the preferred initial imaging technique for evaluating symptomatic breast lesions in women younger than 30 years [4].

Combined digital mammography and 3D tomosynthesis findings

Combined digital mammography and 3D tomosynthesis BIRADS category was given for each lesion according to the BIRADS mammography morphology descriptors; 37/57 (65%) lesions were considered benign (BIRADS 1, 2, and 3), while 20/57 (35%) lesions were considered malignant.

After revising the pathology results 15/18 (83.33 %) lesions were true positives, 5/39 (12.82%) lesions were false positive, 3/18 (16.66) lesion was false negative, and 34/39 (87.17%) lesions were true negatives.

The false-positive results are less (became 5 instead of 11 case) when compared to digital mammography alone as tomosynthesis overcame the tissue overlap in focal asymmetries.

So, combined digital breast mammography and 3D tomosynthesis had a sensitivity of 88.33%, a specificity of 87.18%, a positive predictive value of 75.00%, and a negative predictive value of 91.89%.

Many researchers have investigated the potential role of DBT in both screening and diagnostic settings. Improvements in sensitivity and specificity are expected after adding DBT to conventional mammography because DBT eliminates overlapping tissues, and lesion margins can be more readily assessed, which may reduce the need for extra views as results of Kim et al (4).

Combined digital mammography, 3D tomosynthesis, and ultrasound findings

Combined digital mammography, 3D tomosynthesis, and ultrasound BIRADS category was given for each lesion according to the BIRADS mammography morphology descriptors; 36/57 (63%) lesions were considered benign (BIRADS 1, 2, and 3) while 21/57 (37%) lesions were considered malignant.

After revising the pathology results, 18 (100.00 %) lesions were true positives, 3 (7.7%) lesions were false positive, 0 (0%) lesions was false negative, and 36 (92.30%) lesions were true negatives.

Kim et al. [4] found that previous prospective clinical studies have demonstrated that appropriate use of US as an adjunct to mammography improves sensitivity and specificity of breast cancer diagnoses, particularly in women with dense breasts and in younger women.

In this study, combined digital mammography, 3D tomosynthesis, and ultrasound had a sensitivity of 100.00%, a specificity of 92.31%, a positive predictive value of 85.71%, and a negative predictive value of 100.00%.

However, some points made were usage of 3D (DBT) is limited, like relatively higher dose of radiation, higher cost, and less availability than FFDM. Considering this study, decreased number of patients may make the results a matter of discussion.

Conclusion

From this study, we recommend that 3D digital tomosynthesis should be coupled with FFDM in the screening context to decrease the recall rate as it resolves the problem of tissue overlap in dense breast.

In the diagnostic context, ultrasound proved to be more accurate relative to tomosynthesis in characterization of lesion underlying breast asymmetries.