title: Variations in the sonographic measurement techniques of BI-RADS 3 breast masses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the differences in sonographic (US) distance and volume measurements from different sonologists and identify the optimal parameters to avoid clinically relevant variations in the measurement of BI-RADS 3 breast masses.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this cross-sectional study with prospectively collected data, four physicians with various levels of experience in US, herein called sonologists, performed distance and volume US measurements of 80 masses classified as BI-RADS 3. The Cochran Q test was used to compare the matched sets of rates of clinically relevant variability between all pairs of sonologists' measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were clinically relevant differences between sonologists in the measurements of the longest diameter (range, 17.5-43.7%, p = 0.003), the longest diameter perpendicular to the previous one (anteroposterior diameter) (17.5-33.7%, p = 0.06), the third diameter orthogonal to the plane defined by the previous two (transverse diameter) (28.7-55%, p = 0.001), and at least two of those three diameters (18.7-38.7%, p = 0.015). The smallest clinically relevant differences were observed with volume measurements (range of differences, 6.2-13.7%, p = 0.51).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Volume measurement technique was associated with the least variations, whereas distance measurements, which are used routinely, were associated with unacceptable rates of clinically relevant variations. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:252-260, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.|Imaging Section, Prof. José Aristodemo Pinotti Women's Hospital, CAISM, State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.|Imaging Section, Prof. José Aristodemo Pinotti Women's Hospital, CAISM, State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Menezes
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8802-8870
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jales
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.|Imaging Section, Prof. José Aristodemo Pinotti Women's Hospital, CAISM, State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Desuó Bueno
authors.initials: ADB
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Imaging Section, Prof. José Aristodemo Pinotti Women's Hospital, CAISM, State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique Francisco
authors.initials: CHF
authors.lastname: Arguello
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derchain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BI-RADS 3 category; breast; measurement technique; solid masses; ultrasonography