Abstract
Background: To evaluate the application of three elastography methods including real-time tissue elasticity imaging (RTE), strain rate ratio elasticity imaging (SR), and acoustic radiation force elastic imaging (ARFI) in two ultrasound instruments for the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions. Materials and Methods: The authors examined 97 breast nodules of 97 patients who were ready to undergo adenomammectomy. For each patient, RTE was applied to determin nodule properties by level 5 score method, SR was applied to measure the strain rate ratio of targeted nodules, and the surrounding mammary glands at the same level, ARFI was applied to measure internal and marginal shear wave velocity (SWV) values of targeted nodules. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of RTE, SR, the internal SWV values, and marginal SWV values were more than 80% in diagnosing breast nodules. Area under the curve of RTE, SR, the internal SWV values, and the marginal SWV values in diagnosis of benign and malignant breast nodules were 0.923, 0.934, 0.934 and 0.916, respectively. No significant differences were found among the four values for the diagnosis efficiency. Conclusions: RTE, SR, and ARFI are all highly valuable in diagnosing benign and malignant breast nodules.
Highlights
B-mode ultrasonography (BUS) has been proven to be useful in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses [2, 3], this modality is limited by its low specificity [4, 5]
Studies have shown that real-time tissue elasticity imaging (RTE), strain rate ratio elasticity imaging (SR), and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography have the potential to differentiate benign from malignant breast masses [6-10]
[15] Currently, RTE, SR, and ARFI have become new methods for evaluating breast masses; few related reports have discussed whether or not there is any difference among the three methods for the identification of benign and malignant breast masses
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide [1]. B-mode ultrasonography (BUS) has been proven to be useful in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses [2, 3], this modality is limited by its low specificity [4, 5]. Studies have shown that real-time tissue elasticity imaging (RTE), strain rate ratio elasticity imaging (SR), and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography have the potential to differentiate benign from malignant breast masses [6-10]. Many ultrasonic diagnostic instruments are equipped with elastic imaging software, making elasticity imaging more and more popular [11-13]. To find the best method of ultrasonic elasticity for diagnosing breast mass properties, the authors examined the application value in the differential diagnosis using real-time tissue elasticity imaging (RTE), strain rate ratio elasticity imaging (SR), and acoustic radiation force
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