Role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of mammographically detected asymmetric densities

Background Asymmetric breast density is a potentially perplexing finding; it may be due to normal hormonal variation of the parenchymal pattern and summation artifact or it may indicate an underlying true pathology. The current study aimed to identify the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the assessment of breast asymmetries. Results Fifty breast lesions were detected corresponding to the mammographic asymmetry. There were 35 (70%) benign lesions and 15 (30%) malignant lesions. The mean ADC value was 1.59 ± 0.4 × 10–3 mm2/s for benign lesions and 0.82 ± 0.3 × 10–3 mm2/s for malignant lesions. The ADC cutoff value to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions was 1.10 × 10–3 mm2/s with sensitivity 80%, specificity 88.6%, positive predictive value 75%, negative predictive value 91%, and accuracy 86%. Best results were achieved by implementation of the combined DCE-MRI and DWI protocol, with sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 94.3%, positive predictive value 87.5%, negative predictive value 97.1%, and accuracy 94%. Conclusion Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) was the most sensitive method for the detection of the underlying malignant pathology of breast asymmetries. However, it provided a limited specificity that may cause improper final BIRADS classification and may increase the unnecessary invasive procedures. DWI was used as an adjunctive method to DCE-MRI that maintained high sensitivity and increased specificity and the overall diagnostic accuracy of breast MRI examination. Best results can be achieved by the combined protocol of DCE-MRI and DWI.

Adding the merits of contrast to the ease of mammography; can we highlight what’s behind breast asymmetries?

Background Breast symmetry is one of the major things that radiologists assess when looking at mammograms and is one of the most challenging mammographic findings to evaluate. Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is an emerging mammography technique that has shown comparable sensitivity and specificity to MRI. The purpose of this study is to assess the value of CESM in characterization of breast asymmetries (BAs) and if it should be incorporated in its diagnostic work-up. Results Three hundred sixty-five patients with mean age of 47 years were included in the study. CESM was performed aiming for characterization of 380 suspicious or indeterminate breast asymmetries. Assessment of subtracted high-energy images (HEI) markedly improves the overall accuracy reaching 88.4%. Further improvement of the overall accuracy was achieved on combined assessment of the low-energy images (LEI), subtracted high-energy images (HEI), and ultrasound reaching 91.3%. Conclusion CESM is considered as a valuable complementary imaging tool considering the evaluation of breast asymmetries and should be incorporated in its diagnostic work-up in cases not resolved on an initial combined mammography and targeted ultrasound study especially in the presence of a heterogeneous dense breast parenchyma. Yet, this may be hindered in the presence of inflammatory signs because of the overlapping imaging criteria.

Added value of contrast-enhanced mammography in assessment of breast asymmetries

Objective: To evaluate the clinical performance of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) on asymmetries detected on a mammogram (MG). Methods: This study was approved by the Scientific Research Review Board of the Radiology Department, and waiver of informed consent was applied for the uses of data of the included cases. The study included 125 female patients,33 (26.4%) who presented for screening and 92 (73.6%) who presented for a diagnostic MG. All had breast asymmetries on MG. Ultrasound examination and CESM using dual-energy acquisitions were performed for all patients. Results: In all, 88/125 (70.4%) females had focal asymmetry (seen in two views and occupying less than a quadrant), 26/125 (20.8%) had global asymmetry (occupying more than one quadrant), 10/125 (8%) had asymmetry (seen in a single view and occupying less than a quadrant), and 1/125 had developing asymmetry (0.8%) (not present in the previous MG). Malignant lesions represented 91 cases, benign lesions represented 30 cases, and 4 cases were high-risk lesions. CESM sensitivity was 100% (v s 97.8 % for sono-mammography), specificity was 55.88% (v s 81.8% for sono-mammography), and the positive- and negative-predictive values were 85.85 and 100% (v s 93.7 and 93% for sono-mammography respectively) . Conclusion: In our study, we conclude that focal and global asymmetries with other suspicious mammographic findings were statistically significant for malignancy and CESM played an important role in delineating tumor size and extension. Any non-enhancing asymmetrical density correlated with a benign pathology, if not associated with other suspicious imaging findings. Advances in knowledge: Our study is the first to explore the added value of CESM to asymmetries detected in screening and diagnostic mammography.

Principles of surgical treatment of congenital, developmental and acquired female breast asymmetries

Background/Aim. There is a natural asymmetry in normal female brests. When the difference in the shape, size or position of the breast and nipple-areola complex is visible, surgical correction is the only treatment option and presents one of the greatest challenges for a plastic surgeon. Based on the Nahai classification presented in details, the aim of the study was to present the possibilities of plastic surgery to correct primary (congenital), secondary (developmental) and tertiary (acquired) brest asymmetries. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of female breast asymmetry surgeries performed in the Clinic for Plastic Surgery and Burns, Military Medical Academy (MMA), Belgrade over the last seven years (January 2002 - January 2009). Results. During the above mentioned period, 82 female patients, 18 - 65 years of age, underwent surgery for breast asymmetry. The most frequent asymmetries were developmental, 'pubertal' (n = 43); acquired asymmetries as a consequence of tumor surgery were found in the other 22 patients, while 7 patients were diagnosed with primary asymmetries such as congenital chest-wall asymmetry (Sy. Poland), accessory and tuberous breasts. All patients underwent preoperative ultrasound examination, while hormone status was determined in those with developmental, 'pubertal' asymmetries. The selection of surgical procedure for correction of breast asymmetry depended upon clinical examination findings and patient's wish relating to the shape and size of the breasts. The most of breast asymmetries were corrected by a combination of surgical procedures including primary and secondary reconstruction, reduction, suspension or augmentation mammoplasty. Having combined different surgical procedures, we managed to achieve satisfactory results. The hypertrophic scar formation after reduction mamoplasty was seen in some cases, however, they caused no significant patient's discomfort. Conclusion. Application of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgical principles can considerably contribute to achieving excellent results in corrective surgery for breast asymmetries. In addition to most suitable breast asymmetry surgical procedures choice, motivation of a patient is also very important for achieving satisfactory results.