The diagnostic importance of evaluation of solid breast masses by sonoelastography

The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of a scoring method by sonoelastography in solid breast masses is helpful in differentiating benign and malignant lesions.

One hundred and eighty solid breast masses in 155 patients (147 benign, 33 malignant) were prospectively evaluated in a two-year period. For each lesion, B-mode sonography and sonoelastography images were obtained. Elasticity scores of the lesions were determined with a 5-point scoring method by sonoelastography. The findings were compared with histopathology. The diagnostic performances of the sonoelastographic scoring and B-mode sonography methods were determined.

The mean scores on sonoelastography were 2.61±0.62 for benign lesions and 3.73±0.69 for malignant lesions. When a cutoff point between scores 3 and 4 was used, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for B-mode sonography were found as 81%, 89%, 79%, 46% and 97%, respectively; these were 87%, 73%, 91%, 69% and 92% for the sonoelastographic scoring method.

After B-mode sonography analysis, the evaluation with the 5-point scoring method by sonoelastography might be a complementary method that increases specificity when differentiating between benign and malignant solid breast masses.