title: [Automated breast ultrasound vs. handheld ultrasound: BI-RADS classification, duration of the examination and patient comfort].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) is a potentially valuable adjunct to mammography in breast cancer screening. The reliability and the inter-observer variability in the BI-RADS classification, compared to handheld ultrasound (US), as well as the duration of the examination and patient comfort have only been investigated in a limited number of papers to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, we examined 148 breasts of 76 patients with handheld US and ABUS. The ABUS data were evaluated separately by two investigators. Patient comfort was assessed using a standardized questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inter-observer agreement for the BI-RADS classification among the two observers using ABUS was high (κ = 0,750), the agreement with handheld US was moderate. The sensitivity in the detection of breast cancer was 87.5 % for handheld US and 75 % for the ABUS evaluation by observer 1. The sensitivity was 87.5 % for the ABUS evaluation and 83 % for mammography by observer 2. The ABUS examination was rated as completely painless by 64 % of the patients. 25 % of the patients indicated minor pain, and 10 % indicated moderate pain. Handheld US was rated as completely painless by 66 % of the patients. 26 % of the patients indicated minor pain, and 8 % indicated moderate pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ABUS examinations focusing on the BIRADS classification have low inter-observer variability, compared to handheld US. The sensitivity of ABUS did not differ significantly from handheld US.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Allgemeine Radiologie und Kinderradiologie, Medizinische Universität Wien. helmut.prosch@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prosch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Halbwachs
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strobl
authors.forename: L-M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Reisner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hondl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Mostbeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000295:instrumentation*