Recall rate of screening ultrasound with automated breast volumetric scanning (ABVS) in women with dense breasts: a first quarter experience.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the recall rate of screening ultrasound with automated breast volumetric scanning (ABVS) in women with dense breasts (BI-RADS density classification 3 or 4 on mammogram).


METHODS
In this retrospective cohort study, at the end of the "first quarter" (August-October 2013) of use, our practice database was searched for all ABVS examinations performed and specifically, the positive examinations (defined as abnormal/BI-RADS 0) for which patients were recalled for additional imaging evaluation with handheld ultrasound (HHUS); the latter group was reviewed with respect to final BI-RADS and pathology if relevant.


RESULTS
During the 3-month study time period, 558 ABVS studies were performed: 453 (81%) were initially BI-RADS 1 or 2 and 105 (19%) were BI-RADS 0-incomplete and recalled, corresponding with an overall recall rate of 19%; specifically, the recall rate trended down from 24.7% in August to 12.6% in October. To date, 98 of the 105 recalled women have returned for HHUS, with the resultant final BI-RADS as follows: 25/98=25% BI-RADS 1, 46/98=47% BI-RADS 2, 13/98=13% BI-RADS 3, 14/98=15% BI-RADS 4, and 0/98=0% BI-RADS 5. All biopsies performed to date of the ABVS-detected BI-RADS 4 lesions have yielded benign results, with the most common pathology being fibroadenoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The recall rate of screening ABVS in women with dense breasts at our institution was under 20% overall during its first quarter of use, and trended down from nearly 25% in the first month to under 13% in the third. The clinical implication is that ABVS does have a learning curve, but that is a potentially feasible way to meet the increasing demands for screening ultrasound in women with dense breasts.
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10128. Electronic address: ela9033@med.cornell.edu.
Elizabeth Kagan
EK
Arleo
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10128.
Marwa
M
Saleh
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10128.
Dana
D
Ionescu
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10128.
Michele
M
Drotman
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10128.
Robert J
RJ
Min
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10128.
Keith
K
Hentel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*
ABVS; Breast ultrasound; Dense breasts; Recall rate; Screening