Automated breast volume scanning versus conventional ultrasound in breast cancer screening

To assess the diagnostic value of automated breast volume scanning (ABVS) versus conventional ultrasound (US) in breast cancer screening.

This study retrospectively analyzed the ABVS and US images from 200 women who underwent breast examination and were recommended for biopsy in our health management centers between July 22, 2011, and October 20, 2013. We retrospectively assessed whether breast lesions from 200 women, which were detected and classified by US, could be detected and classified by an independent examiner using only ABVS findings. The sensitivity and specificity of ABVS versus US in determining lesion malignancy were calculated using biopsy as the gold standard.

In the 200 cases, 273 and 194 individual lesions were detected by ABVS and US, respectively. All 194 US-detected lesions were detected by ABVS. Pathologic examination determined that, of the 273 total lesions, 251 lesions were benign and 22 lesions were malignant. US detected 21 of the 22 malignant lesions and ABVS detected all 22 malignant lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of ABVS relative to biopsy (gold standard) were 28.95% and 100%, whereas the sensitivity and specificity of US relative to biopsy were 43.06% and 98.36%.

US displays superior sensitivity to ABVS across all Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) density categories while displaying equivalent specificity with the exception of BI-RADS density category 1, in which ABVS displayed a slightly superior specificity. As ABVS possesses several advantages and limitations with respect to US, ABVS may serve as an effective, adjunct, screening tool to mammography and conventional sonography.