Breast Imaging Modality Comparison Case Studies

Case 1: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [lower outer quadrant]

XRM

Spiculated focal asymmetry.

HHUS

Irregular, hypoechoic solid mass. Echogenic halo.

MRI

Irregular, spiculated mass demonstrating suspicious enhancement kinetics.

QTscan®

Irregular, high speed mass.

Case 2: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [left, lower outer quadrant]

XRM

Focal asymmetry, subtle finding mammographic ally due to adjacent dense breast tissue.

HHUS

Ill-defined, subtle hypoechoic mass detected sonographically.

Posterior acoustic shadowing.

MRI

Irregular, solid mass.

Suspicious enhancement kinetics.

QTscan®

High speed mass is confirmed on QT, extent of disease more precisely mimics that of MRI, larger than area appreciated on mammography or handheld ultrasound.

Case 3: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [right breast 3:00]

XRM

Irregular, spiculated mass.

Easy to see mammographically due to fatty breast tissue.

HHUS

Irregular, hypoechoic solid mass.

Posterior aspect of the mass not clearly visualized due to posterior acoustic shadowing.

MRI

Irregular, spiculated mass confirmed on with peripheral enhancement.

QTscan®

Spiculation/distortion on reflection.

Mass visualized in its entirety (as opposed to handheld).

High speed.

Spiculations on transmission images; distortion well seen on reflection.

Case 4: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

XRM

Mass cut off on CC view due to its posterior location and therefore not visualized.

Mass seen in the posteroinferior left breast on MLO view.

HHUS

Solid, hypoechoic mass confirmed sonographically.

Margins poorly visualized on handheld.

MRI

Irregular, suspiciously enhancing mass confirmed on MRI.

QTscan®

Entire mass visualized in the lower inner quadrant posteriorly.

Margins of mass clearly visualized.

Areas of spiculation noted.

Case 5: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

XRM

Irregular mass at 9:00.

Subtle finding on MG.

HHUS

Solid, hypoechoic, irregular mass confirmed on ultrasound.

Posterior aspect of mass not well visualized due to posterior acoustic shadowing.

MRI

Suspiciously enhancing, irregular mass confirmed on MRI.

QTscan®

Irregular, high speed mass seen on speed images.

Corresponding hypoechoic mass is identified on reflection images.

Distortion well seen on reflection.

Case 6: Mucinous (Colloid) Carcinoma

XRM

Ill-defined, low density focal asymmetry.

Given the low density, may not look very suspicious mammographically.

HHUS

Solid, hypoechoic mass is confirmed sonographically.

Taller than wide.

Echogenic halo.

Posterior acoustic shadowing.

MRI

Irregular, heterogeneously enhancing mass is confirmed.

QTscan®

Low speed mass with high speed irregular periphery.

Spiculation seen on sagittal.

Borders not well visualized.

Irregular margins.

Not cyst.

Case 7: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

XRM

Focal asymmetry in the area of lump in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast.

HHUS

Hypoechoic, irregular solid mass is confirmed on handheld ultrasound.

MRI

Focal area demonstrating suspicious enhancement kinetics is identified on MRI.

QTscan®

Focal high speed space-occupying lesion.

Closely mimics the extent of disease identified on MRI.

Case 8: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

XRM

Spiculated mass.

Well seen in background of scattered fibroglandular tissue on mammogram.

HHUS

Large, solid necrotic mass is identified sonographically.

MRI

Heterogeneous mass with central necrosis confirmed on MRI.

QTscan®

Irregular, low speed mass is identified.

Low speed may be due to central necrosis/fluid inside.
Corresponding hypoechoic mass on reflection, margins well seen.

Thick echogenic halo on reflection.

Case 9: Invasive Lobular Carcinoma [left 6:00]

XRM

ILC not seen on Mammogram.

HHUS

ILC not seen on handheld.

MRI

ILC seen on MRI.

Focal linear, branching homogeneous non mass-like enhancement.

QTscan®

ILCA seen on QT.

Fusiform space-occupying lesion noted on QT, looks similar to MRI.

Case 10: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [left upper inner quadrant]

XRM

Lobulated mass is identified.

Adjacent satellite nodules are not appreciated mammographic ally.

HHUS

Lobulated, hypoechoic solid mass is confirmed on handheld ultrasound.

MRI

IDC seen on MRI.

QTscan®

IDC seen on QT.

Main mass with adjacent satellite modules.

Similar to MRI.

Read our Dense Breast Mass Detection Study

Learn more about the QTscan® and the Quantitative Transmission Ultrasound difference.

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