OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the most frequent features of cystic breast lesions at ultrasound elastography, discussing the applicability of this method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present casuistic included 150 patients referred for percutaneous breast biopsy of 175 lesions. Histologically diagnosed solid lesions (153 lesions) were excluded; lesions histologically diagnosed as cystic (22 lesions), including complicated cysts, papillary lesions, inflammatory lesions, typical columnar cell hyperplasia and duct ectasia were retrospectively classified by means of elastography, according to a scoring system developed by the authors, with categories ranging between 1 and 4. RESULTS: Thirteen (59%) of the 22 lesions evaluated corresponded to cysts, one (4.6%) to duct ectasia, two (9.2%) to inflammatory lesions, five (22.6%) to papillary lesions, and one (4.6%) to columnar cell hyperplasia. The scoring system was applied with the following results: 17 category 2 lesions, four category 3 lesions, one category 4 lesion, and none category 1 lesion, with a 95% specificity. CONCLUSION: Different features of cystic breast lesions are demonstrated by elastography according to histological results, representing a useful and easily applicable method for differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions.

Keywords: Breast cyst, Ultrasonography, Breast

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of BI-RADS™ categories 3, 4 and 5 in non-palpable breast masses assessed by mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with BI-RADS categories 3, 4 and 5 nonpalpable breast masses identified by mammograms were submitted to complementary ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging studies, besides excisional biopsy. In total, 30 biopsies were performed. The lesions as well as their respective BI-RADS classification into 3, 4 and 5 were correlated with the histopathological results. The predictive values calculation was made by means of specific mathematical equations. RESULTS: Negative predictive values for category 3 were: mammography, 69.23%; ultrasound, 70.58%; and magnetic resonance imaging, 100%. Positive predictive values for category 4 were: mammography, 63.63%; ultrasound, 50%; and magnetic resonance imaging, 30.76%. For category 5, positive predictive values were: mammography and ultrasound, 100%; and magnetic resonance imaging, 92.85%. CONCLUSION: For category 3, the negative predictive value of magnetic resonance imaging was high, and for categories 4 and 5, the positive predictive values of the three modalities were moderate.

Keywords: BI-RADS, Breast cancer, Mammography, Predictive value