PURPOSE: In our study we aim at the quantification of the heterogeneity for differential diagnosis of breast lesions in MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We tested a software tool for quantification of heterogeneity. The software tool provides a three-dimensional analysis of the whole breast lesion. The lesions were divided in regions with similar perfusion characteristics. Voxels were merged to the same region, if the perfusion parameters (wash-in, wash-out, integral, peak enhancement and time to peak) correlated to 99%. We evaluated 68 lesions from 50 patients. 31 lesions proved to be benign (45.6%) and 37 malignant (54.4%). We included small lesions which could only be detected with MRI. RESULTS: The analysis of heterogeneity showed significant differences (p<0.005; AUC 0.7). Malignant lesions were more heterogeneous than benign ones. Significant differences were also found for morphologic parameters such as shape (p<0.001) and margin (p<0.007). The analysis of the enhancement dynamics did not prove successful in lesion discrimination. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that the region analysis for quantification of heterogeneity may be a helpful additional method to differentiate benign lesions from malignant ones.
PURPOSE: In our study we aim at the quantification of the heterogeneity for differential diagnosis of breast lesions in MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We tested a software tool for quantification of heterogeneity. The software tool provides a three-dimensional analysis of the whole breast lesion. The lesions were divided in regions with similar perfusion characteristics. Voxels were merged to the same region, if the perfusion parameters (wash-in, wash-out, integral, peak enhancement and time to peak) correlated to 99%. We evaluated 68 lesions from 50 patients. 31 lesions proved to be benign (45.6%) and 37 malignant (54.4%). We included small lesions which could only be detected with MRI. RESULTS: The analysis of heterogeneity showed significant differences (p<0.005; AUC 0.7). Malignant lesions were more heterogeneous than benign ones. Significant differences were also found for morphologic parameters such as shape (p<0.001) and margin (p<0.007). The analysis of the enhancement dynamics did not prove successful in lesion discrimination. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that the region analysis for quantification of heterogeneity may be a helpful additional method to differentiate benign lesions from malignant ones.
Authors: Daniel I Golden; Jafi A Lipson; Melinda L Telli; James M Ford; Daniel L Rubin Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2013-06-19 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Jacob E D Levman; Cristina Gallego-Ortiz; Ellen Warner; Petrina Causer; Anne L Martel Journal: J Digit Imaging Date: 2016-02 Impact factor: 4.056