Diagnostic value of automated breast volume scanner for breast ductal carcinoma in situ

This study explores the differential diagnostic value of conventional dimensional ultrasound (US) and automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) for breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients. A total of 986 female patients who underwent breast tumor surgery in our hospital from December 2019 to December 2022 were included. Clinical, US, ABVS, and pathological information were collected from all of the patients. Pathological results were used to separate patients into 3 groups: benign, DCIS, and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Single-factor and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the characteristics of DCIS. Of the 986 patients with breast tumors included in this study, 498, 193, and 295 were diagnosed with benign, DCIS, and IDC tumors, respectively. Compared with benign tumors, DCIS tumors were characterized by higher age at onset and breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS) grades, together with high rates of extension to the nipple, microcalcification, convergence sign, abundant blood supply, and nipple discharge proportion. Relative to IDC patients, DCIS tumors exhibited lower BI-RADS grades, aspect ratio values, and Ki-67 index values together with lower rates of irregular morphology, unclear boundaries, posterior echo attenuation, convergence sign, enhanced peripheral echo, nipple discharge, and palpable masses, and higher rates of extension to the nipple. Higher microcalcification rates in DCIS tumors were observed than the proportion of non-calcification in IDC cases. Conventional US and ABVS images of DCIS tumors exhibit certain distinctive characteristics that can aid in the differential diagnosis of DCIS.