title: Reproducible surveillance breast ultrasound using an image fusion technique in a short-interval follow-up for BI-RADS 3 lesions: a pilot study.
abstract: The aim of our study was to verify the utility of surveillance ultrasound (US) using real-time virtual sonography (RVS)--to coordinate present US images with past US images reconstructed from previously acquired US volume data using an image fusion technique--for short-interval follow-up of Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3 mass lesions. We enrolled 20 women (23 lesions) with more than 24 mo of follow-up after classification as BI-RADS category 3 during initial US. US surveillance was scheduled at 6, 12 and 24 mo. Measurement of the target lesion diameter was performed after the probe was adjusted to include the maximum diameter of a past US image at each visit. RVS was technically successful in 100% of patients. All target lesions were detected, including two iso-echoic lesions. The mean target lesion diameters at baseline and at 6, 12 and 24 mo were 8.2 ± 4.2, 8.4 ± 4.5, 8.1 ± 4.5 and 8.3 ± 5.0 mm, respectively (p = 0.785). Our results suggest that RVS is a reproducible, operator-independent technique for comparison of US images of BI-RADS category 3 mass lesions obtained at different time points.
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan. Electronic address: snakano1@aichi-med-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tetsuka
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimihito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kousaka
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiomi-Mouri
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukutomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute City, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishiguchi
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound System Group, Department of Research & Development, Medical System Engineering Division 2, Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd, Kashiwa City, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: BI-RADS category 3; Breast; Image fusion technique; Real-time virtual sonography; Surveillance ultrasound; Ultrasound; Ultrasound volume data