Abbreviated breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or digital breast tomosynthesis for breast cancer detection in dense breasts? A retrospective preliminary study with comparable results.

AIM: To compare the diagnostic performance of abbreviated breast magnetic resonance (AB-MR) imaging (MRI) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for breast cancer detection in Malaysian women with dense breasts, using histopathology as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-centre cross-sectional study of 115 women with American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) breast density C and D on DBT with breast lesions who underwent AB-MR from June 2018 to December 2021. AB-MR was performed on a 3 T MRI system with an imaging protocol consisting of three sequences: axial T1 fat-saturated unenhanced; axial first contrast-enhanced; and subtracted first contrast-enhanced with maximum intensity projection (MIP). DBT and AB-MR images were evaluated by two radiologists blinded to the histopathology and patient outcomes. Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV] and negative predictive value [NPV]) was assessed. RESULT: Of the 115 women, the mean age was 50.6 years. There were 48 (41.7%) Malay, 54 (47%) Chinese, and 12 (10.4%) Indian women. The majority (n=87, 75.7%) were from the diagnostic population. Sixty-one (53.1%) were premenopausal and 54 (46.9%) postmenopausal. Seventy-eight (72.4%) had an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Ninety-one (79.1%) women had density C and 24 (20.9%) had density D. There were 164 histopathology-proven lesions; 69 (42.1%) were malignant and 95 (57.9%) were benign. There were 62.8% (n=103/164) lesions detected at DBT. All the malignant lesions 100% (n=69) and 35.7% (n=34) of benign lesions were detected. Of the 61 lesions that were not detected, 46 (75.4%) were in density C, and 15 (24.6%) were in density D. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for DBT were 98.5%, 34.6%, 66.3%, and 94.7%, respectively. There were 65.2% (n=107/164) lesions detected on AB-MR, with 98.6% (n=68) malignant and 41.1% (39) benign lesions detected. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for AB-MR were 98.5%, 43.9%, 67.2%, and 96.2%, respectively. One malignant lesion (0.6%), which was a low-grade ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS), was missed on AB-MR. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that both DBT and AB-MR have comparable effectiveness as an imaging method for detecting breast cancer and have high NPV for low-risk lesions in women with dense breasts.

The effectiveness of an ultrafast breast MRI protocol in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of an ultrafast breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 or 5 lesions were recruited between July 2020 to May 2021. A standard breast MRI was performed with the inclusion of the ultrafast protocol between the unenhanced sequence and the first contrast-enhanced sequence. Three radiologists performed image interpretation in consensus. Ultrafast kinetic parameters analysed included the maximum slope (MS), time to enhancement (TTE), and arteriovenous index (AVI). These parameters were compared using receiver operating characteristics with p-values of <0.05 considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: Eighty-three histopathological proven lesions from 54 patients (mean age 53.87 years, SD 12.34, range 26-78 years) were analysed. Forty-one per cent (n=34) were benign and 59% (n=49) were malignant. All malignant and 38.2% (n=13) benign lesions were visualised on the ultrafast protocol. Of the malignant lesions, 77.6% (n=53) were invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 18.4% (n=9) were ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The MS for malignant lesions (13.27%/s) were significantly larger than for benign (5.45%/s; p<0.0001). No significant differences were seen for TTE and AVI. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the MS, TTE, and AVI were 0.836, 0.647, and 0.684, respectively. Different types of invasive carcinoma had similar MS and TTE. The MS of high-grade DCIS was also similar to that of IDC. Lower MS values were observed for low-grade (5.3%/s) compared to high-grade DCIS (14.8%/s) but the results were not significant statistically. CONCLUSION: The ultrafast protocol showed potential to discriminate between malignant and benign breast lesions with high accuracy using MS.

Primary anorectal malignant melanoma: A clinical, radiology and pathology correlation.

INTRODUCTION: Primary gastrointestinal melanomas are mucosal malignancies that arise from melanocytes in the oropharynx, rectum, and anus. Anorectal malignant melanoma (ARMM) are exceedingly rare, accounting for less than 1% of all melanomas, 0.1% of all rectal malignancies and 4% of anal malignancies. Diagnosis is frequently delayed as these lesions are often mistaken for haemorrhoids. Histological evaluation with special immunohistochemical stains is often necessary for definitive diagnosis. Due to the aggressive nature, 61% of patients with ARMM would already have lymph node involvement or distant metastases, by the time of diagnosis. Prognosis is usually poor with 5-year survival rate of <20%. We report a case of metastatic ARMM in an elderly lady who presented with symptoms and signs mimicking a haemorrhoid. CASE REPORT: A 69-year-old lady presented with one year history of intermittent rectal bleed and an anorectal mass that was initially treated as haemorrhoid. Colonoscopy showed a hyperpigmented mass in the anorectal region which was confirmed as malignant melanoma on histopathological examination. Imaging with CT and MRI demonstrated locally advanced tumour with distant metastases to the liver and lung. Patient was referred for palliative management. CONCLUSION: ARMM is a rare malignancy and often presented with non-specific clinical signs. Diagnosis is frequently delayed without high index of suspicion. MRI pelvis is the imaging of choice to assess local extent of disease. Histologic evaluation with special immunohistochemical stains is often necessary for definitive diagnosis. Prognosis is poor despite surgical and chemotherapeutic interventions.

Myofibroblastoma of the breast.

INTRODUCTION: Myofibroblastoma is a rare benign mesenchymal tumour arising from the stromal elements of the breast tissue. Histopathological variants such as classic, cellular, collagenous / fibrous, lipomatous, infiltrative, myxoid and epithelioid have been identified. Most myofibroblastomas are immunoreactive for CD34, actin, CD10 and desmin, usually express oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and variably express androgen receptor (AR). CASE REPORT: We report a case of myofibroblastoma in an octogenarian male presenting with painless solitary breast lump. Mammography (digital tomosynthesis) and ultrasound showed a well-circumscribed hyperdense mass and hypoechoic, solid, oval mass with peripheral vascularity respectively. Patient underwent wide local excision. DISCUSSION: Diverse characteristics of myofibroblastoma on imaging necessitates histopathological analysis for an accurate diagnosis. Myofibroblastoma are often confused with fibroadenomas due to the benign imaging characteristics and with malignant neoplasia due to their wide morphological spectrum. Surgical excision is considered curative.