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Published on: January 12, 2017
Differentiating between malignant and benign breast masses: factors limiting sonoelastographic strain ratio
A Stachs1, S Hartmann, J Stubert
1Department of Obstretrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock Medical School, Rostock, Germany. angrit.stachs@med.uni-rostock.de
Ultraschall in Der Medizin (Stuttgart, Germany : 1980)
|October 31, 2012
Summary
Strain ratio ultrasound improves breast tumor differentiation by increasing specificity without reducing sensitivity. However, it is unreliable for lesions shallower than 4 mm.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Accurate differentiation of focal breast lesions is crucial for patient management.
- Elastography offers a non-invasive method to assess tissue stiffness, aiding in lesion characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare strain ratio (quantitative) and qualitative elastography for differentiating focal breast lesions.
- To identify factors limiting the accuracy of strain ratio measurements.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 215 patients with 224 breast masses.
- Ultrasound elastography (qualitative Tsukuba score and quantitative strain ratio) was performed.
- Diagnostic performance was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and subgroup analysis.
Main Results:
- Strain ratio was significantly higher in malignant (3.04 ± 0.9) versus benign (1.91 ± 0.75) lesions (p < 0.001).
- ROC analysis showed comparable performance for strain ratio (0.832), Tsukuba score (0.869), B-mode ultrasound (0.822), and mammography (0.853).
- Lesion depth ≤ 4 mm was the only factor associated with diagnostic failure.
Conclusions:
- Strain ratio enhances B-mode ultrasound specificity for breast tumor differentiation without compromising sensitivity.
- Strain ratio measurements are not recommended for lesions with a depth of 4 mm or less.
