Value of adding shear wave elastography to routine breast ultrasound examination in assessment of solid breast lesions

Purpose

To assess the additional diagnostic value of share wave elastography in combination with B-mode ultrasound versus B-mode ultrasound alone in characterization of solid breast lesions.

Patients and methods

prospective study included women with a single undiagnosed solid breast lesion, between May 2016 and May 2017. All patients underwent B-mode ultrasound and (SWE), and histopathology was performed on all lesions.

Results

150 women included in this study. 87 breast lesions were malignant & 63 were benign. B-mode ultrasound was performed and the lesions were categorized according to the (BI-RADS). With a sensitivity of 89.7%, specificity of 76.2%, overall accuracy of 84%. Using SWE alone based on elasticity, speed and color pattern, the cut-off values were ≥46?kPa and ≥3.25?m/s. These values demonstrated a sensitivity of 96.6%, specificity of 90.47%, and overall accuracy of 94%. The color pattern had a better sensitivity of 96.8%, specificity of 92%, and overall accuracy of 94.5%.The combination of SWE and B-mode ultrasound results using logistic regression modeling improved diagnostic performance, with an overall accuracy of 96%.

Conclusion

Combined B-mode ultrasound with shear-wave elastography will improve the overall diagnostic performance for the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions.