Ultrasound features of breast nonmass using a standardized lexicon: prediction of malignancy

Abstract

Introduction:A breast nonmass (NM) on ultrasound (US) is associated with a wide spectrum of breast pathologies. The aims of this study were to (1) re-evaluate the ultrasonographic features of breast NM using a standardized lexicon and ( 2) identify the ultrasonographic features that predict malignancy in NM and its histopathologic confirmation. Material and Methods: Women with ultrasonographic report of breast NM with BI-RADS category 3, 4, or 5 and diagnosis by biopsy or ultrasonographic follow-up over 24 months were included. The following features of breast NM were assessed by ultrasound: echogenicity, distribution, orientation, and associated findings according to the standardized lexicon of the fifth-edition update of the ACR BI-RADS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: Seventy-two women with breast NM were included; 53 (73.6%) had confirmed benign NM, 3 (4.2%) had benign with upgrade potential (