Scholars@Duke
Derek L. Nguyen

Derek L. Nguyen

Assistant Professor of Radiology
Radiology, Breast Imaging
derek.nguyen@duke.edu
Box 3808, Durham, NC 27705
Box 3808, Durham, NC 27705

Selected Publications

Follow-up Recommendations for Young, Average Risk Women With BI-RADS 3 Masses.

Journal Article J Breast Imaging · November 11, 2025 OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome and malignancy rate of BI-RADS 3 masses during follow-up at 6, 12, and 24 months. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study identified female patients <35 years of age with an oval, parallel, circumscribed mass assigned a ... Full text Link to item Cite

Breast density in MRI: an AI-based quantification and relationship to assessment in mammography.

Journal Article NPJ Breast Cancer · October 27, 2025 Mammographic breast density is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer. Recently, there has been interest in breast MRI as an adjunct to mammography, as this modality provides an orthogonal and highly quantitative assessment of breast tissue. Howe ... Full text Link to item Cite

Architectural Distortions Detected by DBT Alone With No Ultrasound Correlate and Nonmalignant Results on Core Needle Biopsy: Outcomes From an Imaging-Focused Management Strategy.

Journal Article AJR Am J Roentgenol · May 2025 BACKGROUND. Architectural distortions (ADs) detected on digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) are more frequently associated with nonmalignant pathologies than those detected on digital mammography. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcome ... Full text Link to item Cite

Improving Computer-aided Detection for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis by Incorporating Temporal Change.

Journal Article Radiol Artif Intell · September 2024 Purpose To develop a deep learning algorithm that uses temporal information to improve the performance of a previously published framework of cancer lesion detection for digital breast tomosynthesis. Materials and Methods This retrospective study analyzed ... Full text Link to item Cite

Imaging Changes and Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Active Monitoring for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Seven-Year Follow-up Study.

Journal Article Acad Radiol · July 2024 RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the imaging changes and their associated positive predictive value (PPV) for invasive breast cancer in women undergoing active monitoring for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this seven-year ... Full text Link to item Cite

Screening the Implant-Augmented Breast with Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Is Tomosynthesis Necessary for Non-implant-Displaced Views?

Journal Article J Breast Imaging · May 27, 2024 OBJECTIVE: To determine cancer visualization utility and radiation dose for non-implant-displaced (ID) views using standard protocol with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) vs alternative protocol with 2D only when screening women with implant augmentation ... Full text Link to item Cite

Patient Characteristics Impact Performance of AI Algorithm in Interpreting Negative Screening Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Studies.

Journal Article Radiology · May 2024 Background Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to manage radiologists' workloads. The impact of patient characteristics on AI performance has not been well studied. Purpose To understand the impact of patient characteristics (race and ethnici ... Full text Link to item Cite

Patient Preferences of Breast Radiologists' Attire and Appearance.

Journal Article Acad Radiol · April 2024 RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess patient preferences for breast radiologists' attire and appearance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional anonymous, voluntary 19-question survey was administered to patients undergoing screening and diagnostic ma ... Full text Link to item Cite

Evolving Treatment Paradigms for Low-Risk Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Imaging Needs.

Journal Article AJR Am J Roentgenol · March 2024 Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a nonobligate precursor to invasive cancer that classically presents as asymptomatic calcifications on screening mammography. The increase in DCIS diagnoses with organized screening programs has raised concerns about over ... Full text Link to item Cite

Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation of Nonmass Enhancement Contiguous with Malignant Index Breast Cancer Masses at Preoperative Breast MRI.

Journal Article Radiol Imaging Cancer · March 2024 Purpose To determine the pathologic features of nonmass enhancement (NME) directly adjacent to biopsy-proven malignant masses (index masses) at preoperative MRI and determine imaging characteristics that are associated with a malignant pathologic condition ... Full text Link to item Cite

Interval Breast Cancers Versus Screen Detected Breast Cancers: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Journal Article Acad Radiol · September 2023 RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: Mammographic screening detects most breast cancers but there are still women diagnosed with breast cancer between annual mammograms. We aim to identify features that differentiate screen detected breast cancers from interval breast ... Full text Link to item Cite

Comparison of Diagnostic Mammography-Guided Biopsy and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis-Guided Biopsy of Suspicious Breast Calcifications: Results in 1354 Biopsies.

Journal Article AJR Am J Roentgenol · February 2023 BACKGROUND. Studies have shown improved targeting and sampling of noncalcified lesions (asymmetries, masses, and architectural distortion) with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)-guided biopsy in comparison with digital mammography (DM)-guided stereotactic ... Full text Link to item Cite

Axillary adenopathy detected on breast MRI following COVID-19 vaccination: outcomes and follow-up recommendations.

Journal Article Clin Imaging · January 2023 This retrospective study presents 110 patients with suspected COVID-19 vaccine-related axillary adenopathy on breast MRI. Our study aimed to assess the outcomes of axillary adenopathy detected on breast MRI performed within one year after COVID-19 vaccinat ... Full text Link to item Cite

Disparities Associated With Patient Adherence to BI-RADS 3 Assessment Follow-up Recommendations for Mammography and Ultrasound.

Journal Article J Am Coll Radiol · December 2022 OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between sociodemographic factors and adherence rates in patients with a BI-RADS 3 assessment. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reviewed data from all patients with a BI-RADS 3 assessment on mammography and ultr ... Full text Link to item Cite

Comparison of emergency pediatric breast ultrasound interpretations and management recommendations between pediatric radiologists and breast imaging radiologists.

Journal Article Emerg Radiol · December 2022 PURPOSE: Pediatric patients with breast-related symptoms often initially present to the emergency department for evaluation. While pediatric radiologists are accustomed to evaluating acute infectious and traumatic etiologies, they may be less familiar with ... Full text Link to item Cite

Addressing Disparities Related to Access of Multimodality Breast Imaging Services Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Journal Article Acad Radiol · December 2022 Despite technological advancements focused on reducing breast cancer mortality through early detection, there have been reported disparities in the access to these imaging services with underserved patient populations (including racial minority groups and ... Full text Link to item Cite

Comparison of Outcomes for One-View Asymmetries Recalled From Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Versus Full-Field Digital Mammography Screening Examinations.

Journal Article AJR Am J Roentgenol · November 2022 BACKGROUND. Recall rates are lower for digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) than for full-field digital mammography (FFDM). This difference could have important implications with respect to one-view asymmetries given that missed cancers are often visible on ... Full text Link to item Cite

Virtual Interviews for Breast Imaging Fellowship During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of Program Directors and Applicants.

Journal Article J Breast Imaging · June 7, 2022 OBJECTIVE: To compare in-person and virtual breast fellowship interview experiences from the perspective of fellowship program directors (PDs) and applicants. METHODS: Three separate voluntary, anonymous, e-mail delivered surveys were developed for PDs, in ... Full text Link to item Cite

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Axillary Adenopathy on Breast Imaging: Follow-Up Recommendations and Histopathologic Findings.

Journal Article AJR Am J Roentgenol · June 2022 This study describes 94 patients who presented with suspected COVID-19 vaccine-related axillary adenopathy on breast imaging. All biopsies recommended within 12 weeks of the second vaccine dose were benign. Among women not recommended for biopsy, the media ... Full text Link to item Cite

Outcomes of Canceled Tomosynthesis-Guided Biopsy of Architectural Distortion Due to Nonvisualization.

Journal Article J Breast Imaging · 2022 OBJECTIVE: Architectural distortion without a sonographic correlate is an indication for digital breast tomosynthesis-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (DBT-VAB). However, when the finding is not visualized on the day of biopsy, the procedure is canceled. This ... Full text Link to item Cite

BI-RADS 3 Assessment on MRI: A Lesion-Based Review for Breast Radiologists.

Journal Article J Breast Imaging · 2022 Unlike mammography and US, limited data exist to establish well-defined criteria for MRI findings that have a ≤2% likelihood of malignancy. Therefore, determining which findings are appropriate for a BI-RADS 3 assessment on MRI remains challenging and vari ... Full text Link to item Cite

Disparities in the uptake of digital breast tomosynthesis for breast cancer screening: A retrospective cohort study.

Journal Article Breast J · December 2021 We present a retrospective cohort study evaluating the utilization and effectiveness of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for breast cancer screening with a focus on racial differences. 46,236 females underwent screening mammography between 4/1/2013 and 3 ... Full text Link to item Cite

Disparities Associated With Patient Adherence of Post-Breast-Conserving Surgery Surveillance Imaging Protocols.

Journal Article J Am Coll Radiol · November 2021 OBJECTIVE: Currently, national and international breast imaging practices utilize variable postsurgical surveillance protocols without uniform recommendations. Because of the innate differences between screening versus diagnostic mammography from schedulin ... Full text Link to item Cite

Diagnostic Versus Screening Mammography Recommendations for Postlumpectomy Imaging Surveillance of Patients With Breast Cancer.

Journal Article AJR Am J Roentgenol · November 2021 Among 707 women who were recommended to undergo annual diagnostic mammography (DM) surveillance after lumpectomy for breast cancer, 94.9%, 90.4%, and 84.3% of women presented for DM at years 1, 2, and 3 after lumpectomy. A total of 18.8%, 11.0%, and 9.9% o ... Full text Link to item Cite

Preparing junior radiology residents for overnight call via peer-led, hands-on simulation.

Journal Article Emerg Radiol · June 2021 PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the perceived value and impact of a hands-on mock call simulation program on resident confidence with interpretation of emergency department overnight call cases. METHODS: A five-session course was implemented i ... Full text Link to item Cite

Impact of Improved Screening Mammography Recall Lay Letter Readability on Patient Follow-Up.

Journal Article J Am Coll Radiol · November 2020 PURPOSE: In the setting of abnormal results on screening mammography, the Mammography Quality Standards Act mandates that patients receive a mailed "recall" lay letter informing them to return for additional follow-up imaging. The language used in this let ... Full text Link to item Cite

Breast MRI biopsy cancellation due to lesion nonvisualization.

Journal Article Breast J · October 2020 It is a clinical dilemma when a finding reported as suspicious on a breast MRI is not visualized at the time of a scheduled MRI-guided breast biopsy. We retrospectively reviewed all canceled MRI-guided biopsies at our institution between 6/1/2009 and 9/20/ ... Full text Link to item Cite

Impact of Telephone Communication on Patient Adherence With Follow-Up Recommendations After an Abnormal Screening Mammogram.

Journal Article J Am Coll Radiol · September 2020 OBJECTIVE: The Mammography Quality Standards Act requires written communication to every patient after an abnormal screening mammogram. Starting in 2013, our institution began telephoning all patients with a Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RAD ... Full text Link to item Cite

Improving State-Mandated Breast Density Notifications.

Journal Article J Am Coll Radiol · March 2020 PURPOSE: Effective written communication directly affects health care outcomes. Since 2016, the complex language of state-mandated breast density notifications (BDNs) has been challenged, because it is perceived to be beyond the comprehension of most patie ... Full text Link to item Cite

Improving Patient Comprehension of Screening Mammography Recall Lay Letters.

Journal Article J Am Coll Radiol · December 2019 PURPOSE: In accordance with the Mammography Quality Standards Act, recall lay letters should be written using language that is "easily understood by a lay person." The authors hypothesized that the readability of their institution's current recall lay lett ... Full text Link to item Cite