title: Comparison between different imaging techniques in the evaluation of malignant breast lesions: can 3D ultrasound be useful?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was done to assess the feasibility of three-dimensional ultrasonography (3D-US) for volume calculation of solid breast lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The volumes of 36 malignant lesions were measured using conventional 2D-US, 3D-US and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compared with that obtained with histology (standard of reference). With 2D Ultrasouns, volume was estimated by measuring three diameters and calculating volume with the mathematical formula for spheres. With 3D-US, stored images were retrieved and boundaries of masses were manually outlined; volume calculation was performed with VOCAL software. For MRI, volume measurements were obtained with special software for 3D reconstructions, after each lesion had been manually outlined. Histology measured the three main diameters and the volume was estimated using the mathematical formula for spheres. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement between the volumes measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ICC indicated that a good level of concordance was identified between 3D-US and histology (0.79). According to the Bland-Altman analysis, limits of agreement of mean differences of the volumes measured with the three imaging modalities were comparable with histology: -2 ÷ 1.5 cm(3) for 3D-US; -2.3 ÷ 1.3 cm(3) for 2D-US and -2.2 ÷ 1.6 cm(3) for MRI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D-US is a reliable method for the volumetric assessment of breast lesions. 3D-US is able to provide valuable information for the preoperative evaluation of lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Udine, P.le Santa Maria della Misericordia 15, 33100, Udine, Italy, clauser.p@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clauser
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Londero
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Como
authors.forename: Rossano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girometti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazzocchi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuiani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*