Comparison of three different planes obtained by automated breast volume scanner for the observation of margin characteristics of breast masses

Abstract

Objective To compare the application value of three different planes obtained by automated breast volume scanner for the observation of margin characteristics of breast masses. Methods Two hundred and eight women patients with 237 masses (120 benign and 117 malignant, confirmed by pathology) were included in this study. The detection rates of mass margin characteristics in three different planes were compared. The diagnostic performance of mass margin characteristics in differentiating benign and malignant breast masses in three different planes was compared by area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results The detection rate of angular margins for malignant masses in sagittal planes(41.9%) was higher than that in coronal planes(22.2%) and axial planes(26.5%) with statistical difference (P=0.001, 0.013); the detection rate of spiculated margins for malignant masses in coronal planes(42.7%) was higher than that in sagittal planes(11.1%) and axial planes(17.1%) with statistical difference (both P<0.001). No significant difference was found between any two of the three planes in the detection rates of margin characteristics for benign masses. The AUC of angular margins in sagittal planes (0.693) was higher than that in coronal planes (0.607) and axial planes (0.624); the AUC of spiculated margins in coronal planes (0.697) was higher than that in sagittal planes (0.551) and axial planes (0.573); the AUC of indistinct margins in axial planes(0.606) was higher than that in coronal planes (0.552) and sagittal planes (0.552); the AUC of microlobulated margins in axial planes (0.825) was higher than that in coronal planes (0.778) and sagittal planes (0.817). Conclusions Three different planes of ABVS have their own advantages for the observation of margin characteristics of breast masses. Key words: Ultrasonography; Automated breast volume scanner; Breast diseases; Margin characteristics