Typical and unusual sonoelastographic patterns of breast cystic lesions: impact on BI-RADS classification

Purpose: To describe the sonoelastographic appearance of breast cysts (simple, complicated-cysts with sedimentation and complex-cysts with internal solid parts). To assess the influence of sonoelastography on the BI-RADS classification of complicated cysts. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted and all cysts diagnosed by the same radiologist between May 2007 and July 2008 in our breast unit were included. Each lesion was assessed according to BI-RADS and the Tsukuba elasticity score using a Hitachi 8500 US device. Cytology or histopathology was obtained for complicated and complex cysts. Results: 49 simple, 43 complicated and 14 complex cysts were detected. The elasticity patterns were divided into 4 categories: typical BGR (blue-green-red) pattern, appearance similar to that described for solid. lesions, variants of BGR, an inverse score of 3. The BGR pattern was predominant in breast cysts. Atypical elasticity patterns were mostly associated with complicated and complex cysts. BI-RADS classification of complicated cysts before and after elastography showed a statistically significant difference in terms of final category assessment (most of the complicated cysts were downgraded to BI-RADS 2 after elastography). Conclusion: Being aware of the wide spectrum of elastographic patterns of breast cysts and considering elastography when assessing the BI-RADS category of complicated cysts may lead radiologists to better patient management. ; Ziel: Ziel war die Beschreibung der sonoelastischen Darstellung von Mammazysten (einfache Zysten, komplizierte Zysten mit Sedimentation und komplexe Zysten mit soliden Anteilen) sowie die Beurteilung des Einflusses der Sonoelastografie auf die BI-RADS Klassifikation bei komplizierten Zysten. Material und Methoden: Zwischen Mai 2007 und Juli 2008 wurden prospektiv alle Patienten unseres Brustzentrums mit Mammazysten in eine Studie eingeschlossen. Die Untersuchungen wurden alle durch den gleichen Radiologen durchgeführt. Alle Läsionen wurde mittels BI-RADS und ...