Detection of breast lesions using an automated breast volume scanner system.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the clinical utility of an automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) system for the detection of breast lesions.

METHODS

The breasts of 81 patients referred for ultrasonographic examination were scanned using the ABVS system and hand-held ultrasonography independently by two experienced examiners. The ABVS was used to perform scans of the breast in three directions (anteroposterior, lateral and medial), with the addition of further inferior and superior scans if necessary. The scanning data were then stored and automatically reconstructed. For hand-held ultrasonography the whole breast was scanned radially from the outside to the centre of the nipple.

RESULTS

The numbers of lesions reported by the two examiners were 89 and 99, respectively, using the ABVS (not statistically significant), compared with 60 and 85, respectively, using hand-held ultrasonography (statistically significant).

CONCLUSIONS

The ABVS system is an operator-independent method for automated breast scanning. It detected more breast lesions and provided additional information for the diagnosis of intraductal and malignant lesions compared with hand-held ultrasonography.