Incremental Value and Cross-Center Validation of Pretreatment Tri-Modal Ultrasound Deep Learning for Predicting Breast Pathologic Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Study.

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Abstract

<b>Objective</b><b>:</b> To evaluate the incremental predictive value of pretreatment tri-modal ultrasound deep learning integrating two-dimensional ultrasound (2DUS), color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for predicting breast pathologic complete response (bpCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and to assess performance stability across independent centers. <b>Methods:</b> This retrospective multicenter study included 1089 patients with primary invasive breast cancer. Center 1 provided the training cohort (<i>n</i> = 572) and internal validation cohort (<i>n</i> = 246), whereas centers 2 (<i>n</i> = 160) and 3 (<i>n</i> = 111) served as independent external validation cohorts. Using pretreatment 2DUS, CDFI, and CEUS within a standardized intratumoral and 10-mm peritumoral framework, single-modality, all three dual-modality combinations, and tri-modal models were developed. The best-performing dual-modality model was identified and locked during training as the primary imaging comparator. A Tri-modal + Clinical model further integrated pretreatment clinical and biomarker variables. Performance was assessed using AUC, Brier score, calibration, decision curve analysis, and ablation experiments. <b>Results:</b> Overall, 383 patients (35.2%) achieved bpCR. CEUS was the strongest single modality, and 2DUS + CEUS was the best-performing dual-modality model. Compared with 2DUS + CEUS, the tri-modal model increased the AUC from 0.895 to 0.919 in the combined external cohort (ΔAUC, +0.023; 95% CI, +0.010 to +0.038; <i>p</i> = 0.001), with corresponding improvements in Brier score (0.124 to 0.105) and F1 score (0.747 to 0.786). The AUC point estimate increased in both external centers, although the 95% CI for the incremental AUC included zero in external validation cohort 2. Despite modest standalone discrimination, CDFI provided measurable incremental information when added to 2DUS + CEUS. Further integration of pretreatment clinical and biomarker variables increased the combined external AUC to 0.935. Reduced-input retraining showed performance decreases after omission of any modality, with the largest reduction after CEUS omission. <b>Conclusions:</b> Pretreatment tri-modal ultrasound deep learning provided incremental predictive value for bpCR beyond the best dual-modality model, with a consistent direction of benefit across two independent external centers. Clinical and biomarker integration provided additional predictive information, supporting further evaluation of this multimodal framework for individualized pretreatment bpCR prediction.

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