Elastic Modulus and Elasticity Ratio of Malignant Breast Lesions with Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastography: Variations with Different Region of Interest and Lesion Size
Antonio Bulum,
Gordana Ivanac,
Eugen Divjak,
Iva Biondić Špoljar,
Martina Džoić Dominković,
Kristina Bojanić,
Marko Lucijanić,
Boris Brkljačić
Affiliations
Antonio Bulum
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Gordana Ivanac
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Eugen Divjak
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Iva Biondić Špoljar
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Martina Džoić Dominković
Department of Radiology, General Hospital Orašje, 3rd Street, 76270 Orašje, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kristina Bojanić
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Neurosurgery and Radiology, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Crkvena ul. 21, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Marko Lucijanić
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Boris Brkljačić
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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 min, 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.
