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A preliminary study to propose a diagnostic algorithm for PET/CT-detected incidental breast lesions: application of BI-RADS lexicon for US in combination with SUVmax

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Abstract

Objectives

To develop a diagnostic algorithm for positron emission tomography (PET)–detected incidental breast lesions using both breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) criteria.

Methods

Fifty-six PET-detected incidental breast lesions from 51 patients, which were subsequently investigated by breast ultrasound within 1 month of the PET study, constituted the study cohort and they were finally verified by tissue diagnosis or a 2-year follow-up. Based on the maximum specificity with sensitivity > 60.0% and maximum sensitivity with specificity > 60.0%, two SUVmax cutoff values were calculated at 2 and 3.7. BI-RADS ≥ 4 was considered as highly suspicious for malignancy. The diagnostic accuracies were estimated for SUVmax levels above or below the cutoff points combined with the BI-RADS suspicion level.

Results

Overall, 46 benign and 10 malignant lesions were studied. The diagnostic characteristics of SUVmax ≥ 2, SUVmax ≥ 3.7, and BI-RADS ≥ 4 were 80.0%, 60.0%, and 80.0% for sensitivity, 73.9%, 95.7%, and 92.7% for specificity, and 75.0%, 89.3%, and 90.2% for accuracy, respectively. When the SUVmax threshold was set at 2, combined with BI-RADS suspicion level, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 100.0%, 69.6%, and 75.0%, respectively. The results for SUVmax threshold set at 3.7 combined with BI-RADS were 90.0%, 91.3%, and 91.1% for the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, respectively. A diagnostic algorithm was accordingly generated.

Conclusion

The need for biopsy should be justified in low BI-RADS lesions presenting with high SUVmax at 3.7 or higher. The biopsy of patients with high B-IRADS and low SUVmax could be preserved.

Key Points

• A diagnostic algorithm was developed for PET-detected incidental breast lesions using both BI-RADS and SUVmax criteria.

• Diagnostic performance was calculated separately and conjunctively for SUVmax ≥ 2, SUVmax ≥ 3.7, and BI-RADS ≥ 4.

• The need for biopsy can be justified in BI-RADS < 4 lesions with SUVmax ≥ 3.7. Lesions with BI-RADS < 4 and indeterminate SUVmax (2 < SUVmax < 3.7) benefit from a short-interval follow-up. BI-RADS < 4 lesions with SUVmax < 2 may confidently be scheduled for routine screening.

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Abbreviations

BI-RADS:

Breast imaging reporting and data system

F-18 FDG PET/CT:

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography

HD:

High definition

PET:

Positron emission tomography

ROC:

Receiver operating characteristic

SUV:

Standardized uptake volume

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Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Department of Radiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Daar-Abad, Niavaran Ave., 19575-154, Tehran, 1956944413, Iran

    Mehrdad Bakhshayeshkaram, Razieh Hashemi Beni & Farahnaz Aghahosseini

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Vali-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Yalda Salehi & Mehrshad Abbasi

  3. Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Department of Oncology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sharareh Seifi

  4. Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Centre, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Department of Paediatrics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Hassanzad

  5. Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Department of Pulmonology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hamid Reza Jamaati

Authors
  1. Mehrdad Bakhshayeshkaram
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  2. Yalda Salehi
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  3. Mehrshad Abbasi
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  4. Razieh Hashemi Beni
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  5. Sharareh Seifi
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  6. Maryam Hassanzad
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  7. Hamid Reza Jamaati
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  8. Farahnaz Aghahosseini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Farahnaz Aghahosseini.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Mehrdad Bakhshayeshkaram.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was not required for this study because the Review Board of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences waived the need for an informed consent.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences approval was obtained.

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• Retrospective

• Observational

• Performed at one institution

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Bakhshayeshkaram, M., Salehi, Y., Abbasi, M. et al. A preliminary study to propose a diagnostic algorithm for PET/CT-detected incidental breast lesions: application of BI-RADS lexicon for US in combination with SUVmax. Eur Radiol 29, 5507–5516 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06106-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06106-x

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