First clinical results of a fusion prototype for mammography and three-dimensional ultrasound with a standard mammography system and a standard ultrasound probe

Zielsetzung:

Combination of different imaging techniques in fusion devices seems to go along with an improvement of diagnostic measures. In the diagnostic setting complementary x-ray mammography and ultrasound are clinical routine. The aim of the study is to test the feasibility of using an automated standard 3D ultrasound device in fusion with a standard mammography for the first time in breast cancer patients

Material und Methoden:

Digital mammography and 3D-imaging of automated sonography were obtained from 23 patients who were referred to the diagnostic breast unit with a highly suspicious breast lesion. These patients were examined with mammography and 3D ultrasound during the same fixation process of the breast. For this, a recently developed fusion machine with a newly developed elastic gauze, which replaces the upper fixation plate and an ABVS 3D ultrasound transducer from an Acuson S2000 machine and a conventional MAMMOMAT Inspiration (both from Siemens Healthcare GmbH) were utilized. Examination feasibility, imaging coverage and patient's experience were examined.

Ergebnisse:

A total of 19 patients were assessable for this study. In 15 of those patients the region of interest with the tumor was visible on the 3D ultrasound as well and could be located with a software, that marked the region which was identified in the other imaging modality. The missing cases were caused by close proximity to the nipple (n = 2) or the pectoralis muscle (n = 2). Examination was experienced positively by the patients with no unexpected pain experience or injury to the breast. All used elastic gauzes stayed intact.

Schlussfolgerungen:

The fusion of an automated standard 3D ultrasound device fused with a standard mammography system delivers images with comparable diagnostic quality. The examination is very time efficient and well tolerated by the patients. The obtained experience implied a superior localization and evaluation of a region of interest compared to standard combination of mammography and hand held ultrasound.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).