Postcryoablation Breast Imaging Algorithms, Findings, and Standardized Reporting

Breast cryoablation for the treatment of fibroadenoma and breast cancer is safe and effective, and breast cryoablation performed as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia alone is well tolerated by patients. Because use of this procedure is increasing, radiologists and proceduralists must understand the postcryoablation breast imaging algorithms, including the rationale for imaging, the appropriate timing for imaging, and appropriate imaging modalities. Radiologists must also be able to differentiate benign, expected posttreatment findings at the ablation zone from findings suggestive of residual, progressing, or recurrent malignancy on mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, US, MRI, and contrast-enhanced mammography. Finally, radiologists must report postcryoablation breast imaging findings using appropriate descriptors and standardized reporting lexicon. Accurate and standardized reporting of postcryoablation breast imaging findings is important to guide clinical management, facilitate research on imaging findings' associated risk for malignancy, and permit comparison of radiologist performance and patient outcomes across facilities worldwide.