Diagnostic value of ultrasound elastography in triple negative breast cancer: A meta-analysis

The purpose of this study was to determine the value of ultrasound elastic imaging (UE) in the differential diagnosis of the 3 negative breast cancer (TNBC) and non-TNBC.

We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CBM databases from inception to July 20, 2022 and used STATA version 14.0 and Meta-Disc version 1.4 software. We computed summary statistics for sensitivity (Sen), specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR+/LR-), diagnostic odds ratio, and summary receiver operating characteristic curves. Cochran Q-statistic and I2 test were used to assess potential heterogeneity between studies. Sen analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of a single study on overall estimation. We also conducted a meta regression analysis to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity.

Nine studies that fulfilled all the criteria for acceptance were incorporated into the meta-analysis. TNBC 317 and non-TNBC 1055 cases were evaluated. All breast tumors were histologically confirmed. The pooled Sen was 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.58-0.90); the pooled specificity was 0.86 (95%CI = 0.78-0.91). The pooled LR+ was 5.46 (95%CI = 3.07-9.73); the pooled negative LR- was 0.26 (95%CI = 0.12-0.55). The pooled diagnostic odds ratio of UE was 21.00 (95% CI = 6.14-71.78). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.89 (SE = 0.0378). No evidence was found to reveal bias (t = 0.10, P = .92).

Our meta-analysis showed that UE could have high diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing TNBC and non-TNBC.