Usefulness of feature analysis of breast-specific gamma imaging for predicting malignancy.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate which feature of the breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) uptake in women who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer was associated with malignancy.


METHODS
Data on 231 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who underwent preoperative BSGI were retrospectively reviewed. Feature analysis was done by classifying BSGI uptake into mass, non-mass, or focus/foci. Descriptors for mass, non-mass, or focus/foci were shape, distribution, number, and intensity. BSGI features of known malignancies and lesions that were additionally found by BSGI were correlated with mammographic breast density, histology, hormonal status, and clinical follow-up data obtained over at least 2 years.


RESULTS
Among 372 breast lesions from 231 patients, 241 malignancies had been pathologically confirmed prior to BSGI and 131 additional lesions were found on BSGI. Irregular shape was more predictive of malignancy than oval shape (p=0.004) in mass uptake. Linear/ductal distribution was more predictive of malignancy than focal, regional, and segmental distribution (p<0.05) in non-mass uptake. Mammographic breast density was not associated with BSGI features. The lesion to normal ratio (LNR) was higher in the postmenopausal patients than that in the premenopausal patients (p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The feature analysis of radiotracer uptake in BSGI is useful in predicting whether breast lesions are malignant or benign.


KEY POINTS
• The feature analysis of BSGI uptake is useful in predicting malignancy. • Irregular shape was predictive of malignancy in mass uptake. • Linear/ductal distribution was predictive of malignancy in non-mass uptake.
['Choi|Eun Kyoung|EK|', 'Im|Jooyeon Jamie|JJ|', 'Park|Chang Suk|CS|', 'Chung|Yong-An|YA|', 'Kim|Kijun|K|', 'Oh|Jin Kyoung|JK|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001940:Breast D000071060:Breast Density D001943:Breast Neoplasms D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008875:Middle Aged D011237:Predictive Value of Tests D011877:Radionuclide Imaging D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals D012189:Retrospective Studies D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
Breast Neoplasms Diagnostic Imaging Molecular Imaging Radionuclide Imaging Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi