The application of BI-RADS in the diagnosis of breast cystic-solid lesions

Abstract

Objective To analyze the ultrasonographic characteristics of breast cystic-solid lesions and to investigate the diagnostic value of BI-RADS(breast imaging reporting and data system) in this kind of disease. Methods Imaging characteristics of 105 breast cystic-solid lesions of 93 patients were analyzed.All the lesions were assessed by BI-RADS. Histopathologic examination was used as the reference standard. Results Among 105 lesions, 57(54.3%) were benign and 48 (45.7%) were malignant. Differences in orientation, shape, margin, calcification and vascularity were statistically significant between the benign and malignant lesions(P 0.05). There were 51 predominantly solid mass, which appeared as solid mass with little dispersed or centralized cystic regions or solid mass with surrounding cystic regions, including 33 benign lesions and 18 malignant lesions. The area under the curves of ROC was 0.956 in this type. There were 25 lesions predominantly cystic, which had regular or irregular thick walls or septa, or had nodules protruding to the cystic component, including 11 benign lesions and 14 malignant lesions. The area under the curves of ROC was 0.753. There were 29 mixed solid-cystic mass, in which the solid component equaled to the cystic, including 13 benign lesions and 16 malignant lesions. The area under the curves of ROC was 0.887. The area under curves of ROC was 0.873 for the all breast cystic-solid lesions. The rates of malignant cystic-solid lesions in the three types had no significant difference(P>0.05). Conclusions Ultrasound is a useful tool for diagnosing breast cystic-solid lesions. The proportion of the cystic component is not helpful to differentiate malignancy from benignancy. Key words: Ultrasonography; Breast diseases; BI-RADS