Sonographic features of anterior chest wall lesions detected on breast sonography in women: A pictorial essay

Although anterior chest wall lesions rarely occur and the associated imaging findings are nonspecific, various disease processes can affect the chest wall. It is important for radiologists to understand the anatomic relationship between the chest wall and breast and differentiate the tumor origin. This pictorial essay presents the sonographic features of various anterior chest wall lesions that were detected on breast ultrasonography.

The The Role of Breast Sonography and Ductography in the Evaluation of Different Causes of the Nipple Discharge

ABSTRACT Background : The aim of this work is to assess the role of breast sonography and ductography in the evaluation of different causes of nipple discharge. Methods : The study will be carried out on twenty-five female patients referred to the Radiodiagnosis department at Alexandria Main University Hospital presenting with nipple discharge. They were divided into two groups: Group I include 10 patients (40%) with surgically significant nipple discharge who were the patients with unilateral, uniorificial surgically significant colour type nipple discharge .They were investigated by mammography, sonography, and ductography. Group II include 15 patients (60%) with surgically insignificant nipple discharge. They were further subdivided into 9 patients (36%) with unilateral multiorificial and 6 patients (24%) with bilateral nipple discharge. They were subjected to mammography ,sonography without ductography. Results Nipple discharge is the release of fluid from the nipple. It is the third most common breast complaint for women seek medical attention, after lumps and breast pain. It is a symptomatic problem that causes many women both discomfort and anxiety. Conclusion : The current study showed certain diagnostic sonographic features for patients of multiple papillomatosis was agreed with studies carried out Key words : Breast, Ductography, Nipple Corresponding address to : Dr. Ahlam Jamil Al-Ani m.b.b.ch. Al- Faloja Hospital

Ultrasonographic Elasticity Contrast Index of Palpable Breast Lumps

Introduction: Elastrography used in addition to grey scale sonography increases its specificity. Elasticity contrast index (ECI) is based on strain elastrography and being a quantitative parameter, maybe more easy to obtain and reproducible while researches has been done in ECI in thyroid lesions, this is the first study, to the best of our knowledge to evaluate in breast lesions. This study was done to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Elasticity Contrast Index (ECI) in differentiating benign from malignant lesions of breast and to determine its cutoff value. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study done at tertiary health care centre, which involved retrospective evaluation of data collected from September 2016 to March 2017. Conventional sonography was done followed by elastography on commercially available ultrasound machine. ECI was calculated in thyroid protocol available in the unit. Histopathological diagnosis was obtained for all the lesions and taken as gold standard. Results: A total of 89 breast lumps were evaluated, of which was 61 (69.3%) were benign and 27 (30.7%) malignant on histopathology. Independent t test revealed the average ECI value of benign lesions was 2.48 and malignant 5.1. Receiver operating curve showed ECI value of 3.25 as the cutoff, above which the lesions were malignant. Conclusions: ECI is a quantitative elastography technique which can be easily used as an adjunct during breast sonography and can increase its specificity for diagnosing a lesion as malignant. This could reduce the number of false positive biopsies.

Can breast ultrasound reduce patient’s level of anxiety and pain?

Background Breast pain is one of the most common complaints of women attending a gynecology clinic and general practitioners. This pain can cause anxiety and, consequently, reduce the woman’s quality of life. The objective of this study was to assess the severity of pain and anxiety in patients with breast pain and normal examination, before and after breast sonography. Materials and methods Among the patients with breast pain and normal examination who came for breast sonography in three centers in Shiraz during 2011–2012, 51 patients agreed to cooperate in this project. These patients filled out the questionnaire for evaluation of pain and anxiety before and after breast sonography. Results Sonography findings indicated that 88% of patients have normal sonography without any finding. The average amounts of pain severity before and after sonography were 3.3 and 2.4, respectively ( p < 0.005). The average amounts of anxiety severity in patients before and after sonography were 51.9 and 37.9, respectively ( p < 0.005). Conclusion This study shows the severity of pain and anxiety after ultrasonography decreased significantly. It can be concluded that ultrasound findings, which reassure the patients that they do not have specific pathology, can reduce the pain and anxiety by its impact on psychological status of the patient.