Ultrasound Elastography and Strain Ratio Evaluation of Breast Masses

Abstract

Introduction: Breast masses are most commonly encountered problem in the most of the women population out of which breast cancers are the commonest leading malignancies. Early detection and identification of breast lesions is essential and necessary for the proper treatment either surgical or medical management. Aim: To assess the role of ultrasound elastography in differentiating benign and malignant breast masses, Also, to study the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound elastography. To know accuracy of strain ratio in detection and characterisation of breast masses. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted for a period of one year. Total 50 patients presenting with complaints of palpable breast masses with significant USG and ultrasound elastography abnormality in Department of Radiology at MNR Institute of Medical Sciences using Phillips iU22 USG machine were considered for the study. All the patients were subjected to FNAC/ biopsy for confirmation of ultrasound finding and establishment of final diagnosis is done. Patients who had already being diagnosed by FNAC/biopsy and those with known family history of carcinoma of breast were excluded out from the study. Results: Most of the patients in our study belonged to age group of between 31 to 40 years of age. Out of 23 histologically proved malignant patients, Elastography accurately detected 17 malignant cases with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 73.9%, 88.9%, 85%, 50% and 92% respectively. SR (Strain Ratio) could accurately detect all the 23 histologically proven malignant cases with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values are 100%, 81.5% ,82.% and 100 respectively. Conclusion: The combined use of elastography and strain ratio can complement conventional B-mode US with improving its diagnostic performance in distinguishing benign from malignant breast lesions.

Keywords

• carcinoma
• malignant breast lesions
• rotinue 2d ultrasonography
• real time elastography