Quantitative Analysis of Shear Wave Elastography and US-Guided Diffuse Optical Tomography for Evaluating Biological Characteristics of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) and Ultrasound-guided Diffuse Optical Tomography (US-guided DOT) demonstrate promise in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. This study aims to assess the feasibility and correlation of SWE and US-guided DOT in evaluating the biological characteristics of breast cancer. A cohort of 235 breast cancer patients with 238 lesions, scheduled for surgery within one to three days, underwent B-mode ultrasound (US), US-guided DOT, and SWE. Parameters such as Total Hemoglobin Concentration (THC), Maximal Elasticity (Emax), Mean Elasticity (Emean), Standard Deviation of Elasticity (Esd), and Area Ratiowere measured. Correlation with post-surgical pathology reports was examined to explore associations between THC, SWE Parameters, and pathology characteristics. Lesions in patient groups with ER-, PR-, HER2+, high Ki67, LVI+, and ALN+exhibited higher THC, Emax, and Esd compared to groups with ER+, PR+, HER2-, low Ki67, LVI-, and ALN-. The increase was seen in all grades of IDC-I to -III. THC significantly correlated with Smax (r=0.340, P<0.001), Emax (r=0.339, P<0.001), Emean (r=0.201, P=0.003), and Esd (r=0.313, P<0.001). US-guided DOT and SWE prove valuable for the quantitative assessment of breast cancer's biological characteristics, with THC positively correlated with Emax, Emean, and Esd.