Sonographic Assessment of Breast Implants Using Strain Elastography and Shear Wave Elastography in an Animal Model

To date, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the gold standard for diagnosing breast implant rupture. As MRI is an expensive procedure with limited availability, the improvement of sonographic assessment is desirable. A potentially useful tool in this regard is elastography. To evaluate the diagnostic benefits of strain elastography and shear wave elastography under standardized conditions we developed an animal model.

An animal model was created by preparing an implant site in a chicken breast, imitating tissue layers covering a breast implant after mastectomy. Different broken and intact implants were inserted. Thereby, measurements were performed using strain elastography and shear wave elastography. For strain elastography, the resulting images were investigated on repeated patterns. The data generated by shear wave elastography were analyzed for significant differences between the ruptured and intact implants.

The animal model using chicken breast generated realistic images and measurements comparable to those of a human breast. Hence, ruptured and intact implants could be compared under standardized conditions. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between intact and ruptured implants with respect to the data generated by shear wave elastography. Qualitative analysis using strain wave elastography showed different patterns between intact and ruptured implants in the animal model. Intact implants showed a characteristic sonographic image of three layers in certain levels.

Shear wave elastography does not seem to produce reliable data for the evaluation of breast implants, whereas qualitative analysis using strain elastography might be a useful tool to improve diagnostic accuracy.