Radiology Management - July/August 2010

Figure 3 • Ultrasound system using Shear Wave TM elastography.

Photo courtesy of SuperSonic Imagine ( www.supersonicimagine.fr).

Used with permission.

analysis with Mammography, Ultrasound and MRI in the Detection of Breast Cancer. Miami Breast Cancer Conference. Orlando, Florida. February 20–23, 2008.

5Guingrich J, Destounis S, Kaplan S, et al. Evaluation of the SomoVu by U-Systems in diagnostic patients (presentation). 2006.

6Mitka M. New ultrasound “elasticity” technique may reduce need for breast biopsies. JAMA . 2007;297( 5):455.

7Ultrasound elastography falls short in reducing breast biopsies. RSNA. November 29, 2009.

8Breast elastography gets high sensitivity marks in 7-year study. AuntMinnie.com. November 11, 2009.

9Shear Wave Elastography, A Quantitative Mode. SuperSonic Imagine. Available at: http://www. supersonicimagine.fr/product_26_1_a-quan- titative-mode, en.htm. Accessed April 6, 2010.

10Study NCT00716482—Assessment of the Clinical Value of SuperSonic Shear Wave Elastography in the Ultrasonic Evaluation of Breast Lesions.

11Yang WT. Cone-beam CT faster, potentially more accurate than conventional mammography. American Roentgen Ray Society. 2008.

12Conebeam breast CT, with and without contrast, offers diagnostic promise. AuntMinnie. com. November 2009.

Bonnie Rush, RT(R)(M)(QM), president of Breast Imaging Specialists (BIS), is a subject matter expert and provides practice management, regulatory, and expert witness services. For more information, please visit www.mammobis.org or contact her directly at brush4info@aol.com.

82% of the included cases. CBBCT found 97% of the lesions that had been confirmed via pathology. 12 The conclusion was that CBBCT has potential as a tool for diagnostic work-ups of breast lesions. However, with such a small study, this was only preliminarily substantiated. A larger study is underway.

From initial studies, the included modalities may indeed overcome the inherent weaknesses of our current imaging arsenal. Their ultimate value will be determined by ongoing and future studies along with clinical assessment.

References

1Duffy SW, Tabár L, Chen H-h, et al. The impact of organized mammography service screening on breast carcinoma mortality in seven Swedish counties: A collaborative evaluation. Cancer. 2002;95( 3):458–469.