Breast Pain, A Common Grievance: Guidance to Radiologists.

OBJECTIVE. Breast pain is a common complaint among women and a frequent reason they seek health care, including imaging. However, breast pain is infrequently associated with breast cancer. This article reports and synthesizes the evidence about the risk of malignancy with breast pain, the use of imaging to evaluate breast pain, the detection of treatable symptomatic lesions by imaging, and the ability of negative examination findings to reassure patients. Evidence-based guidance for the imaging evaluation of breast pain is presented, and areas that warrant further research are described. CONCLUSION. The studies evaluating the role of imaging in breast pain are limited and conflicting. The clinician and patient should discuss the drawbacks and benefits of imaging to decide whether it is worth pursuing. If imaging is performed, ultrasound, mammography, or both should be done depending on the age of the patient. Areas worthy of further research include larger studies using modern techniques to evaluate the utility of imaging in patients with breast pain, the best way to assist clinicians in avoiding unnecessarily imaging patients with breast pain, and the utility of imaging results to reassure patients with breast pain.

Update on Image-Guided Percutaneous Ablation of Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to delineate the potential techniques for percutaneous ablation of breast cancer, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, and provide results from recent studies on these technologies. The techniques discussed are cryotherapy, laser irradiation, microwave irradiation, radiofrequency ablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation, and irreversible electroporation. CONCLUSION: Although percutaneous ablation techniques have some promising potential for less-invasive treatment of breast cancer, larger multicenter trials are needed to confirm their efficacy, especially in comparison with the reference standard of lumpectomy. The use of these techniques also leads to other remaining unanswered questions, including how to manage the axilla and which patients are the best candidates for these treatments.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Breast.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging modality that is complementary to mammography and ultrasound in the evaluation of breast disease. It has demonstrated utility in many clinical scenarios, and shows promise in others. In this chapter, we discuss the indications and contraindications to MRI. We include information that is essential for the clinician to understand when considering a breast MRI for his patient.

Alternative screening for women with dense breasts: breast-specific gamma imaging (molecular breast imaging).

OBJECTIVE. Given mammography's limitations in evaluating dense breasts, examination with breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI)-also called molecular breast imaging (MBI)-has been proposed. We review the literature pertinent to the performance of BSGI in patients with dense breasts. CONCLUSION. Many studies have reported the sensitivity of BSGI in finding cancers even in dense breasts. However, BSGI has not yet been validated as an effective screening tool in large prospective studies. In addition, whole-body dose remains a significant concern.

A Discordant Pattern of Uptake on 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT Versus 18 F-Fluciclovine PET/CT in Radiation-Induced Hepatitis : Implications for Early Postradiotherapy Imaging-Based Response Assessment.

ABSTRACT: A 62-year-old woman with right-sided invasive lobular breast carcinoma completed external beam radiotherapy 6 weeks before undergoing a 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT and 18 F-fluciclovine PET/CT scan as part of an ongoing clinical trial (NCT04750473) assessing the performance of these molecular imaging modalities in invasive lobular breast carcinoma. The 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT demonstrated a band-like area of increased radiotracer uptake in the dome of the right lobe of the liver anteriorly, whereas 18 F-fluciclovine PET/CT done a day later revealed photopenia in the corresponding area of the liver. The external beam radiotherapy plan confirmed that the radiotherapy field overlaid the region of the hepatic discordant radiotracer uptake on the PET/CT scans.

A Tale of 3 Tracers: Contrasting Uptake Patterns of 18F-Fluciclovine, 68Ga-PSMA, and 18F-FDG in the Uterus and Adnexa.

ABSTRACT: A 41-year-old woman with invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast underwent sequential 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT as part of an ongoing clinical trial (NCT04750473). 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT showed increased radiotracer uptake in the uterine endometrium and left adnexa. 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT showed increased radiotracer uptake in a leiomyomatous uterus. A clinical 18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated radiotracer uptake in the endometrium and a circumferential area of uptake in the left adnexa, a pattern more similar to the 68Ga-PSMA uptake pattern. This case highlights the discordance in the uptake pattern of 2 radiotracers approved for prostate cancer imaging but increasingly used in non-prostate malignancies imaging.

Advancing Competency-Based Medical Education Through Assessment and Feedback in Breast Imaging.

Competency-based medical education (CBME) is a method of educating and assessing trainees that focuses on outcomes, rather than process. In this review, we inform radiologists involved in breast imaging training on the tenets of CBME and its relationship to the milestones, feedback and assessment. We also describe multiple methods for assessment specific to the breast imaging curriculum, and techniques for improving feedback to trainees in breast imaging.

Triaging Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia and Lobular Carcinoma In Situ on Percutaneous Core Biopsy to Surgery or Observation: Assiduous Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation Works, Quantitating Extent of Disease Does Not.

CONTEXT.­: The management of lobular neoplasia (LN) found on core biopsy is controversial and ranges from obligatory surgical excision to clinical/imaging observation. OBJECTIVE.­: To determine if in cases of core needle biopsy yielding LN, quantification of normal and diseased terminal ductal lobular units (TDLUs) can predict which cases require surgical excision and which can be safely followed. A secondary goal is to assess whether the concordance or discordance of core biopsy results, determined by rigorous radiologic-pathologic correlation, can predict for upgrade to malignancy at excision. DESIGN.­: In this retrospective study, 79 specimens from 78 women who underwent image-guided core needle biopsies between 2005 and 2012 yielding LN were evaluated for total number of TDLUs and total number and percentage of TDLUs involved by LN. Additionally, radiologic-pathologic correlation was performed to assess concordance or discordance. All were correlated with the results of surgical excisional biopsy or imaging/clinical follow-up. RESULTS.­: There were 5 upgrades to malignancy. There was no association between upgrade to malignancy and any of the 3 TDLU variables evaluated, including total TDLUs in the specimen (P = .42), total abnormal TDLUs (P = .56), and percent of TDLUs that are abnormal (P = .07). Kendall rank correlation demonstrated a correlation between discordance and upgrade to cancer at surgery that was statistically significant (τb = -0.394, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS.­: Quantifying total TDLU and those involved by LN on core biopsy will not aid in triaging patients to surgery or observation. Assiduous radiologic-pathologic correlation to determine lesion concordance/discordance can predict those patients who would benefit from surgical excision.

Supporting Radiology Residents' Professional Development Through a Competitive Intramural Grant.

Research and other scholarly activities are an important and required component of diagnostic radiology training. Several strategies, both at the departmental and the larger organizational levels, have been implemented to encourage radiology trainees to participate in these activities. In this article, we review and discuss our institution's 10-year experience in supporting the development and realization of scholarly projects through a competitive intramural grant for residents.

The Association of Breast Pain with Malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: Breast pain is a common reason for imaging evaluation; however, the limited literature available suggests a low incidence of malignancy with isolated pain. The goal of this study is to calculate the risk of cancer in patients with breast pain, and to compare to the screening mammography cancer detection rates. METHODS: This retrospective, institutional review board-approved study included all patients for whom a breast pain history sheet was filled out between November 3, 2013, and July 28, 2016. Those without at least two years of follow-up were excluded. From the medical record, any malignancy found at the site of pain at presentation or within two years was noted. Screening cancer detection rate was calculated from the mammography tracking software, and the Chi-square test was used to evaluate the significance of the difference between the cancer detection rates in patients with pain versus that detected by screening. RESULTS: Of 421 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 4 (1.0%) had cancer at the site of pain, with a rate of malignancy of 9.5/1000 (95% CI: 3.5/1000 to 25.2/1000). The screening cancer detection rate was 7.3/1000 (P = 0.403), which was not significantly different. All cancers occurred in patients with coexisting palpable abnormalities; none was found when pain was the only symptom. CONCLUSION: The rate of malignancy in patients with breast pain did not differ significantly from that detected by screening mammography. In patients with isolated breast pain without a palpable abnormality, there were no cases of malignancy. Imaging patients for the sole purpose of evaluating breast pain may not be necessary.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Breast Implant Evaluation.

Breast implant imaging varies depending on patient age, implant type, and symptoms. For asymptomatic patients (any age, any implant), imaging is not recommended. Rupture of saline implants is often clinically evident, as the saline is resorbed and there is a change in breast contour. With saline implants and equivocal clinical findings, ultrasound (US) is the examination of choice for patients less than 30 years of age, either mammography/digital breast tomosynthesis or US may be used for those 30 to 39 years of age, and mammography/digital breast tomosynthesis is used for those 40 years and older. For patients with suspected silicone implant complication, MRI without contrast or US is used for those less than 30 years of age; MRI without contrast, mammography/digital breast tomosynthesis, or US may be used for those 30 to 39 years of age; and MRI without contrast or mammography/digital breast tomosynthesis is used for those 40 years and older. Patients with unexplained axillary adenopathy and silicone implants (current or prior) are evaluated with axillary US. For patients 30 years and older, mammography/digital breast tomosynthesis is performed in conjunction with US. Last, patients with suspected breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma are first evaluated with US, regardless of age or implant type. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Breast Pain.

Breast pain is a common complaint. However, in the absence any accompanying suspicious clinical finding (eg, lump or nipple discharge), the association with malignancy is very low (0%-3.0%). When malignancy-related, breast pain tends to be focal (less than one quadrant) and persistent. Pain that is clinically insignificant (nonfocal [greater than one quadrant], diffuse, or cyclical) requires no imaging beyond what is recommended for screening. In cases of pain that is clinically significant (focal and noncyclical), imaging with mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and ultrasound are appropriate, depending on the patient's age. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Breast Imaging of Pregnant and Lactating Women.

Breast imaging during pregnancy and lactation is challenging due to unique physiologic and structural breast changes that increase the difficulty of clinical and radiological evaluation. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is increasing as more women delay child bearing into the fourth decade of life, and imaging of clinical symptoms should not be delayed. PABC may present as a palpable lump, nipple discharge, diffuse breast enlargement, focal pain, or milk rejection. Breast imaging during lactation is very similar to breast imaging in women who are not breast feeding. However, breast imaging during pregnancy is modified to balance both maternal and fetal well-being; and there is a limited role for advanced breast imaging techniques in pregnant women. Mammography is safe during pregnancy and breast cancer screening should be tailored to patient age and breast cancer risk. Diagnostic breast imaging during pregnancy should be obtained to evaluate clinical symptoms and for loco-regional staging of newly diagnosed PABC. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Evaluation of the Symptomatic Male Breast.

Although the majority of male breast problems are benign with gynecomastia as the most common etiology, men with breast symptoms and their referring providers are typically concerned about whether or not it is due to breast cancer. If the differentiation between benign disease and breast cancer cannot be made on the basis of clinical findings, or if the clinical presentation is suspicious, imaging is indicated. The panel recommends the following approach to breast imaging in symptomatic men. In men with clinical findings consistent with gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia, no imaging is routinely recommended. If an indeterminate breast mass is identified, the initial recommended imaging study is ultrasound in men younger than age 25, and mammography or digital breast tomosynthesis in men age 25 and older. If physical examination is suspicious for a male breast cancer, mammography or digital breast tomosynthesis is recommended irrespective of patient age. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Stage I Breast Cancer: Initial Workup and Surveillance for Local Recurrence and Distant Metastases in Asymptomatic Women.

Women and health care professionals generally prefer intensive follow-up after a diagnosis of breast cancer. However, there are no survival differences between women who obtain intensive surveillance with imaging and laboratory studies compared with women who only undergo testing because of the development of symptoms or findings on clinical examinations. American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines state that annual mammography is the only imaging examination that should be performed to detect a localized breast recurrence in asymptomatic patients; more imaging may be needed if the patient has locoregional symptoms (eg, palpable abnormality). Women with other risk factors that increase their lifetime risk for breast cancer may warrant evaluation with breast MRI. Furthermore, the quality of life is similar for women who undergo intensive surveillance compared with those who do not. There is little justification for imaging to detect or rule out metastasis in asymptomatic women with newly diagnosed stage I breast cancer. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Evaluation of Nipple Discharge.

Appropriate imaging evaluation of nipple discharge depends the nature of the discharge. Imaging is not indicated for women with physiologic nipple discharge. For evaluation of pathologic nipple discharge, multiple breast imaging modalities are rated for evidence-based appropriateness under various scenarios. For women age 40 or older, mammography or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) should be the initial examination. Ultrasound is usually added as a complementary examination, with some exceptions. For women age 30 to 39, either mammogram or ultrasound may be used as the initial examination on the basis of institutional preference. For women age 30 or younger, ultrasound should be the initial examination, with mammography/DBT added when ultrasound shows suspicious findings or if the patient is predisposed to developing breast cancer. For men age 25 or older, mammography/DBT should be performed initially, with ultrasound added as indicated, given the high incidence of breast cancer in men with pathologic nipple discharge. Although MRI and ductography are not usually appropriate as initial examinations, each may be useful when the initial standard imaging evaluation is negative. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Palpable Breast Masses.

Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy and the second leading cause of female cancer death in the United States. Although the majority of palpable breast lumps are benign, a new palpable breast mass is a common presenting sign of breast cancer. Any woman presenting with a palpable lesion should have a thorough clinical breast examination, but because many breast masses may not exhibit distinctive physical findings, imaging evaluation is necessary in almost all cases to characterize the palpable lesion. Recommended imaging options in the context of a palpable mass include diagnostic mammography and targeted-breast ultrasound and are dependent on patient age and degree of radiologic suspicion as detailed in the document Variants. There is little role for advanced technologies such as MRI, positron emission mammography, or molecular breast imaging in the evaluation of a palpable mass. When a suspicious finding is identified, biopsy is indicated. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.