Jessica H Porembka1,2, Lindsay Compton3,4, Lena Omar3,4, Pooja Sharma5, Haley Clark3,4, Richard Ahn3,4, Ramapriya Ganti3,4, Yin Xi3, Jeffery Metzger4,6, John R Leyendecker3. 1. Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard MC 8896, Dallas, TX, 75390-8896, USA. Jessica.Porembka@utsouthwestern.edu. 2. Parkland Health and Hospital System, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, 75235, TX, USA. Jessica.Porembka@utsouthwestern.edu. 3. Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard MC 8896, Dallas, TX, 75390-8896, USA. 4. Parkland Health and Hospital System, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, 75235, TX, USA. 5. Solis Mammography, 15601 Dallas Parkway, Suite 500, Addison, TX, 75001, USA. 6. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8579, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to (1) assess the diagnostic yield of ultrasounds performed in the emergency department for suspected breast abscess and determine the rates of reimaging, discordance, and emergent intervention in a large, busy safety net hospital and (2) determine clinical factors significantly associated with abscess as a way to improve patient selection for emergent breast ultrasounds. METHODS: A total of 581 consecutive breast ultrasounds performed in the emergency department for suspected abscess over 15 months were retrospectively reviewed for imaging, demographics, laboratory data, and physical exam findings. Breast abscess was confirmed by combining imaging, clinical, and laboratory data. Linear logistic regression analysis estimated the likelihood of abscess, and the cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) evaluated diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Final diagnoses included abscess (153/581, 26%), cancer (29/581, 5%), granulomatous mastitis (41/581, 7%), normal (120/581, 21%), and other/indeterminate (238/581, 41%). Factors associated with abscess included induration, fluctuance, erythema, drainage, smoking, diabetes, and Black race. Based on these factors, the AUC of the characteristics predictive of abscess was 0.77 (CI, 0.72-0.81). Six breast cancers were not diagnosed on ultrasound. 40% of ultrasounds (231/581) were considered incomplete/inadequate. CONCLUSION: 74% (428/581) of emergent breast ultrasounds in our population were negative for abscess, while 21% (6/29) of cancers were not diagnosed, and 40% (231/581) of exams were incomplete/inadequate. Patient selection for emergent ultrasounds can be improved, allowing patients with a low likelihood of abscess to be imaged in a more optimal setting.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to (1) assess the diagnostic yield of ultrasounds performed in the emergency department for suspected breast abscess and determine the rates of reimaging, discordance, and emergent intervention in a large, busy safety net hospital and (2) determine clinical factors significantly associated with abscess as a way to improve patient selection for emergent breast ultrasounds. METHODS: A total of 581 consecutive breast ultrasounds performed in the emergency department for suspected abscess over 15 months were retrospectively reviewed for imaging, demographics, laboratory data, and physical exam findings. Breast abscess was confirmed by combining imaging, clinical, and laboratory data. Linear logistic regression analysis estimated the likelihood of abscess, and the cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) evaluated diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Final diagnoses included abscess (153/581, 26%), cancer (29/581, 5%), granulomatous mastitis (41/581, 7%), normal (120/581, 21%), and other/indeterminate (238/581, 41%). Factors associated with abscess included induration, fluctuance, erythema, drainage, smoking, diabetes, and Black race. Based on these factors, the AUC of the characteristics predictive of abscess was 0.77 (CI, 0.72-0.81). Six breast cancers were not diagnosed on ultrasound. 40% of ultrasounds (231/581) were considered incomplete/inadequate. CONCLUSION: 74% (428/581) of emergent breast ultrasounds in our population were negative for abscess, while 21% (6/29) of cancers were not diagnosed, and 40% (231/581) of exams were incomplete/inadequate. Patient selection for emergent ultrasounds can be improved, allowing patients with a low likelihood of abscess to be imaged in a more optimal setting.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast abscess; Breast emergencies; Breast ultrasound; Emergency radiology
Authors: Xueying Hu; Kelly S Myers; Eniola T Oluyemi; Mary Philip; Armina Azizi; Emily B Ambinder Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2020-11-02 Impact factor: 4.872