Computer-aided diagnosis for surgical office-based breast ultrasound.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
BREAST ULTRASOUND (US) has become an increasingly integral part of the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of breast disease. It is the most useful adjunctive technique to mammography. Also, it plays an important role in differentiating cystic from solid masses and in guiding interventional procedures. With US, the levels of diagnostic confidence and accuracy depend on the quality of the examination. Good-quality equipment must be used to produce high-quality-image resolution. The skilled operator must properly mark the region of interest (ROI) to achieve the correct diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The rapid development of US made it seem advisable to reconsider the clinical value of breast US, especially using the high-resolution, real-time US, and computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) system. High-resolution probes, computer-enhanced imaging, and portable machinery have led to the widespread adoption of real-time US by breast surgeons. Surgeons have a much greater clinical correlation than radiologists by performing the digitial US studies. Breast surgeons should not be excluded in the multidisciplinary care of a patient with breast disease. On the contrary, it must include the surgeon, radiologist, pathologist, and patient. Ultrasonographic examination is painless, requires no roentgenographic exposure, and, with proper training, may be easily performed in a timely, convenient manner in a physician's office. Hieken and Velasco1 found that it takes 3 or 4 months to learn how to use a breast US before the surgeon felt comfortable with the technique. To achieve the same level of using US as an experienced radiologist, a surgeon should take much longer. To shorten the long learning curve, a CAD system can optimize this performance.