Summary: A study in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) screening with remote reading matched mammography benchmarks for cancer detection and had low interval cancer rates, making it a promising option for breast cancer screening in underserved regions.
Key Takeaways
- ABUS with remote reading matched mammography for cancer detection and showed low rates of interval cancers, making it an effective alternative screening method.
- Teleradiology combined with ABUS could significantly improve breast cancer screening accessibility in underserved or resource-limited areas where mammography is unavailable.
- ABUS detected 24 cancers among 5,978 women, with most being invasive and node-negative, showing a positive predictive value of 24% for biopsy and a low interval cancer rate during follow-up.
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Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) screening with remote reading matched mammography benchmarks for cancer detection and showed low rates of interval cancers, according to a study in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).
“Teleradiology combined with ABUS could help improve access to breast cancer screening services in resource-limited or underserved regions where mammographic screening is not established,” writes lead author Hongping Song, MD, PhD, from Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, China.
Results from Large-Scale China Study
The study involved asymptomatic women, aged 35-69, from 46 community health centers across 18 provinces in China (January-December 2021). ABUS was the only screening method used, with images captured by technologists and sent to a remote reading center. There, two specialized breast radiologists independently reviewed the images using BI-RADS, with a third radiologist resolving any disagreements. Diagnostic reports were returned to the community centers, and patients followed up at local hospitals. The reference standard included histopathology and 24-month follow-up.
Results showed that ABUS detected 24 cancers among 5,978 women (4 per 1,000). The abnormal interpretation rate (AIR) was 11.9%, with a biopsy PPV of 24.0%. Of the detected cancers, 95.8% were invasive (median size: 10 mm; 73.9% node-negative). Two interval cancers (0.33 per 1,000 women) were diagnosed during follow-up.
Featured image: 41-year-old asymptomatic woman who underwent screening ABUS at community health center with remote reading.
