Prone 3D abus vs hhus: Diagnostic accuracy and potentialities

Purpose: Aim of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of SOFIA: automated 3D prone breast US vs hand held manual ultrasonography in breast cancer prevention. Material and Methods: 57 female patients have been involved in this prospective study; the first in Italy and one of the first across Europe. All patients underwent clinical exam, hand held ultrasonography, 3D automated breast ultrasonography in prone position, mammography if >40 yo, in selected cases breast MRI. Results: Compared to mammography, the association with 3D automated breast ultrasonography in prone position improved the diagnostic accuracy (respectively 8%, CI 2.22-19.23% vs 98.25%, CI 90.61-99.84%). 41 benign lesions and 15 cancers have been detected; one case of breast cancer has been missed because of the position (axillary region) on SOFIA. Conclusion: 3D automated breast ultrasonography in prone position might be helpful to improve cancer detection in dense breasts, even if a little tendency towards the size underestimation of benign lesions has been demonstrated.