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BACKGROUND: Early breast cancer diagnosis is of great clinical importance for selecting treatment options, improving prognosis, and enhancing the quality of patients' survival. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the value of virtual touch tissue imaging average grayscale values (VAGV) helper Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) in diagnosing breast malignancy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 141 breast tumors in 134 patients. All breast lesions were diagnosed pathologically by biopsy or surgical excision. All patients first underwent conventional ultrasound (US) followed by virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI). The measurement of the VAGV of the lesion was performed by Image J software. BI-RADS classification was performed for each lesion according to the US. We performed a two-by-two comparison of the diagnostic values of VAGV, BI-RADS, and BI-RADS + VAGV. RESULTS: VAGV was lower in malignant tumors than in benign ones (35.82 ± 13.39 versus 73.58 ± 42.69, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value, sensitivity, and specificity of VAGV was 0.834, 84.09%, and 69.07%, respectively. Among BI-RADS, VAGV, and BI-RADS + VAGV, BI-RADS + VAGV had the highest AUC (0.926 versus 0.882, P = 0.0066; 0.926 versus 0.834, P = 0.0012). There was perfect agreement between the two radiologists using VAGV (ICC = 0.9796) and substantial agreement using BI-RADS (Kappa = 0.725). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that VAGV can accurately diagnose breast cancer. VAGV effectively improves the diagnostic performance of BI-RADS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tumor angiogenesis plays a critical role in the growth and metastasis of breast cancer. Evaluating the added value of vascular features to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) in differentiating malignant masses from benign ones is essential. Micro-flow Imaging (MFI) is a promising noninvasive diagnostic method for the microvessels in breast tumors, but its precise value is still uncertain. OBJECTIVES: Understanding whether malignant tumor vascular characteristics by MFI are associated with breast cancer and whether the diagnostic efficiency varies by age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: B-mode ultrasound and MFI were performed for 153 solid breast lesions. The vessels images by MFI were reviewed and assessed by two investigators, respectively. Then the diagnostic efficacy of different vascular features combined with BI-RADS was evaluated in different age groups. RESULTS: The mean size of lesions is 19.4 (range 18–78) mm. There were 94 breast masses in benign, while 59 breast masses in malignant by pathology. III Adler classification, penetrating vessels, and complex flow pattern showed a positive association with a high risk of malignant breast lesions (p < 0.05). BI-RADS combined with vessel characteristics show better improvement of diagnostic performance of breast lesions in the elderly group than in the young group. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular features by MFI contribute to malignant breast masses' diagnosis, and the association might be modified by age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]