Accuracy of an automated breast volume ultrasound system for assessment of the pre-operative extent of pure ductal carcinoma in situ: comparison with a conventional handheld ultrasound examination.

The goal of the study described here was to compare the accuracy of an automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) with that of hand-held ultrasound (HHUS) in assessing the pre-operative extent of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This prospective study consisted of 33 patients with histopathologically proven pure DCIS who received conventional HHUS and ABVS examinations. The discrepancy and correlation coefficients were calculated to assess differences in sizes determined by imaging and histopathologic examination. Mean age was 51.8 y. Mean lesion size as assessed with the ABVS did not differ significantly from that determined by histopathology. Lesion size was adequately estimated, under-estimated or over-estimated with the ABVS in 64%, 15% and 21% of patients, and with HHUS in 42%, 15% and 42%, respectively (p < 0.05). The coefficient of correlation between histopathologic and ABVS measurements was higher than that between histopathologic and HHUS measurements. The ABVS appears to assess the extent of the lesion better than HHUS and can provide more accurate information pre-operatively.