Value of breast vascularity in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions

Objective To study the value of breast vascularity in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions. Methods The data of 37 patients with benign and malignant breast lesions in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from February 2017 to November 2017 were respectively analyzed. The number, diameter, length and breast-feeding arteries of bilateral breast vessel were recorded in the maximal intensity projection (MIP) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were scored according to Sardanellie. The patients were divided into the benign group and the malignant group according to the pathological results. Besides, ≥2 cm group and <2 cm group was also divided according to the maximum diameter of lesions. The differences in number and score of vascularity in both groups were compared. And the diagnostic efficacy of MRI was evaluated based on Sardanellie score and breast-feeding arteries. Results There were no significant differences in the number and score of vascularity between bilateral breast in benign breast lesions group (1.11±0.35 vs. 1.22±0.45, t=0.19, P=0.85; 0.89±0.38 vs. 0.95±0.21, t=0.25, P=0.80). The number and score of vascularity of the affected side were higher than those of the healthy side in breast malignant lesions group (2.61±1.29 vs. 0.61±0.21, t=6.18, P=0.00; 1.78±0.65 vs. 0.61±0.21, t=6.30, P = 0.00 respectively). The number and score of vascularity were statistically different between benign and malignant breast lesions (t=8.57, P 0.05); The number and score of vascularity in the malignant group were higher than those in the benign group with the maximum diameter ≥2 cm (0.92±0.63 vs. 2.64±1.50, t=47.5, P < 0.05; 0.92±0.33 vs. 1.73±0.79, t=53.5, P < 0.05). There was no significant improvement in the diagnostic efficacy of MRI based on the score of vascularity and positive breast-feeding arteries in the identification of benign and malignant lesions when the maximum diameter of lesions were < 2 cm, and it had a high diagnostic efficacy when the maximum diameter of lesions were ≥2 cm. Conclusions The vascularity of breast can be clearly seen by using breast dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI. The increase and score of vascularity in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions have a certain application value. The positive of breast-feeding arteries may increase the diagnostic efficiency of MRI. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Breast diseases; Diagnosis; Magnetic resonance imaging