Second-look US Using Real-time Virtual Sonography, a Coordinated Breast US and MRI System with Electromagnetic...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Breast Imaging

Background:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects breast lesions, but some are occult to conventional ultrasound.
• Second-look ultrasound (US) aims to improve the detection of these MRI-detected lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of second-look US with real-time virtual sonography (RVS) for detecting conventional B-mode (cB-mode) occult MRI-detected breast lesions.
• To assess the combined diagnostic performance of prone MRI, supine MRI, and RVS-enhanced second-look US.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 53 patients with MRI-detected breast lesions.
• Second-look US using RVS was performed after prone and supine MRI.
• Lesions were categorized by MRI morphology and confirmed by biopsy.

Main Results:

• Of 59 MRI-detected lesions, 20 were seen with cB-mode US.
• 33 of 39 cB-mode occult lesions (85%) were detected by second-look US with RVS.
• 8 lesions (24%) were malignant and 25 (76%) were benign.
• 90% of MRI-detected lesions were identified sonographically using both cB-mode and RVS.

Conclusions:

• Second-look US with RVS and supine MRI significantly improves the detection rate of cB-mode occult MRI-detected breast lesions.
• This combined approach may enhance both sonographic and histopathologic diagnostic accuracy.
• Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.