How Close Is DBT-ABVS Accuracy to MRI for Breast Cancer Screening?

Digital breast tomosynthesis plus automated breast volume scanner (DBT-ABVS) provides acceptable accuracy in staging breast cancer when MRI is unavailable or unfeasible, according to a study published in the European Journal of Radiology.

Researchers from Italy performed a retrospective study to investigate if DBT-ABVS would be comparable to MR imaging in staging breast cancer. Seventy-three patients participated in the study.

All patients underwent preoperative DBT, ABVS, and 1.5 T MRI. Two radiologists recorded the number, site, and breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS) category of breast findings during two independent reading strategies.

Related article: Tomosynthesis Plus Mammography May be Superior to Mammography Alone in Screening

The results showed a total of 160 lesions; 108 were malignant and 52 benign. Of the malignant lesions, there were:

• 53 unifocal lesions
• 15 multifocal lesions
• 4 multicentric lesions
• 1 bilateral lesion

The diagnostic accuracy of DBT-ABVS versus MRI was comparable for all cancers, although sensitivity and positive predictive values were lower:

Compared to MRI, ABVS + DBT missed six lesions, including two invasive cancers and one extensive intravascular invasion associated to ductal carcinoma in situ. Bland-Altman analysis showed ABVS to agree with MRI at a higher extent than DBT in assessing cancer size.

The researchers concluded that although the DBT-ABVS was less performing than MRI in staging breast cancer, it showed acceptable diagnostic accuracy, and could be an option if MRI is unavailable or unfeasible.