Evaluation of the Usefulness of Differential Diagnosis of Breast Mass using Elasticity Score and Elasticity Ratio in Elastography

Abstract

This study evaluated the usefulness of the elasticity score and elasticity ratio in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lesion in breast elastography. We performed a retrospective analysis based on the results of core needle biopsy histology. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to confirm the difference between the 5-degree elasticity score and the Fisher's Exact test. ROC curve analysis was used to determine the elasticity score and the best cut-off value of the elasticity ratio for the prediction of malignant lesions. There was a statistically significant difference (p= .000) between the homogeneity of the elasticity score and the difference of the elasticity ratio between the benign and malignant lesion groups. On the ROC curve analysis, the elasticity score and the elasticity ratio for predicting benign and malignant lesion were determined as AUC 0.806, 0.824, cut-off value 3, 4.4 (p= .001). Therefore, the elasticity score and elasticity ratio may be useful in the differential diagnosis of breast mass.