Influence of region of interest size and ultrasound lesion size on the performance of 2D shear wave elastography (SWE) in solid breast masses

Background Various size and shape of region of interest (ROI) can be applied for shear-wave elastography (SWE). Purpose To investigate the diagnostic performance of SWE according to ROI settings for breast masses. Material and Methods To measure elasticity for 142 lesions, ROIs were set as follows: circular ROIs 1 mm (ROI-1), 2 mm (ROI-2), and 3 mm (ROI-3) in diameter placed over the stiffest part of the mass; freehand ROIs drawn by tracing the border of mass (ROI-M) and the area of peritumoral increased stiffness (ROI-MR); and circular ROIs placed within the mass (ROI-C) and to encompass the area of peritumoral increased stiffness (ROI-CR). Mean (Emean), maximum (Emax), and standard deviation (ESD) of elasticity values and their areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) for diagnostic performance were compared. Results Means of Emean and ESD significantly differed between ROI-1, ROI-2, and ROI-3 ( P < 0.0001), whereas means of Emax did not ( P = 0.50). For ESD, ROI-1 (0.874) showed a lower AUC than ROI-2 (0.964) and ROI-3 (0.975) ( P < 0.002). The mean ESD was significantly different between ROI-M and ROI-MR and between ROI-C and ROI-CR ( P < 0.0001). The AUCs of ESD in ROI-M and ROI-C were significantly lower than in ROI-MR ( P = 0.041 and 0.015) and ROI-CR ( P = 0.007 and 0.004). Conclusion Shear-wave elasticity values and their diagnostic performance vary based on ROI settings and elasticity indices. Emax is recommended for the ROIs over the stiffest part of mass and an ROI encompassing the peritumoral area of increased stiffness is recommended for elastic heterogeneity of mass.

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Elastic Modulus and Elasticity Ratio of Malignant Breast Lesions with Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastography: Variations with Different Region of Interest and Lesion Size

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11061015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1015

Author(s):

Antonio Bulum ◽

Gordana Ivanac ◽

Eugen Divjak ◽

Iva Biondić Špoljar ◽

Martina Džoić Dominković ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Elastic Modulus ◽

Shear Wave ◽

Large Diameter ◽

Small Diameter ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Lesion Size ◽

Ultrasound Elastography ◽

Breast Lesions ◽

Malignant Breast ◽

The Impact

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a type of ultrasound elastography with which the elastic properties of breast tissues can be quantitatively assessed. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of different regions of interest (ROI) and lesion size on the performance of SWE in differentiating malignant breast lesions. The study included 150 female patients with histopathologically confirmed malignant breast lesions. Minimal (Emin), mean (Emean), maximal (Emax) elastic modulus and elasticity ratio (e-ratio) values were measured using a circular ROI size of 2, 4 and 6 mm diameters and the lesions were divided into large (diameter ≥ 15 mm) and small (diameter < 15 mm). Highest Emin, Emean and e-ratio values and lowest variability were observed when using the 2 mm ROI. Emax values did not differ between different ROI sizes. Larger lesions had significantly higher Emean and Emax values, but there was no difference in e-ratio values between lesions of different sizes. In conclusion, when measuring the Emin, Emean and e-ratio of malignant breast lesions using SWE the smallest possible ROI size should be used regardless of lesion size. ROI size has no impact on Emax values while lesion size has no impact on e-ratio values.

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Application of 3D and 2D quantitative shear wave elastography (SWE) to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep41216 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jie Tian ◽

Qianqi Liu ◽

Xi Wang ◽

Ping Xing ◽

Zhuowen Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Shear Wave ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Breast Masses ◽

Malignant Breast

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Combination of shear wave elastography and BI-RADS in identification of solid breast masses

BMC Medical Imaging ◽

10.1186/s12880-021-00702-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xue Zheng ◽

Fei Li ◽

Zhi-Dong Xuan ◽

Yu Wang ◽

Lei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Shear Wave ◽

Breast Imaging ◽

Color Doppler ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Definitive Diagnosis ◽

Pathological Examination ◽

Diagnostic Specificity ◽

Breast Masses ◽

Malignant Breast ◽

Grade Ii

Abstract Background To explore the value of quantitative shear wave elastography (SWE) plus the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) in the identification of solid breast masses. Methods A total of 108 patients with 120 solid breast masses admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were enrolled in this study. The pathological examination served as the gold standard for definitive diagnosis. Both SWE and BI-RADS grading were performed. Results Out of the 120 solid breast masses in 108 patients, 75 benign and 45 malignant masses were pathologically confirmed. The size, shape, margin, internal echo, microcalcification, lateral acoustic shadow, and posterior acoustic enhancement of benign and malignant masses were significantly different (all P < 0.05). The E mean, E max, SD, and E ratio of benign and malignant masses were significantly different (all P < 0.05). The E min was similar between benign and malignant masses (P > 0.05). The percentage of Adler grade II-III of the benign masses was lower than that of the malignant masses (P < 0.05). BI-RADS plus SWE yielded higher diagnostic specificity and positive predictive value than either BI-RADS or SWE; BI-RADS plus SWE yielded the highest diagnostic accuracy among the three methods (all P < 0.05). Conclusion SWE plus routine ultrasonography BI-RADS has a higher value in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses than color doppler or SWE alone, which should be further promoted in clinical practice.

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