Elastosonography in the diagnosis of the nodular breast lesions: preliminary report

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of elastography in characterising nodular breast lesions.

Materials and methods: A total of 82 patients who received mammographic, ultrasonographic and elastographic evaluation in a single session at two Italian centres (Dept of Radiology, Az. Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, and Ospedale Valduce, Como, Italy) between January and August 2004 according to identical protocols exhibited 91 nodules that were subjected to cytological/histological examination. Lesions were classified and scored and the sensitivity and specificity of elastography calculated.

Results: Overall sensitivity and specificity were 79% and 89%, respectively. However, sensitivity was 86% and 65% and specificity 100% and 62% for lesions < 2 cm and > 2 cm in diameter, respectively. Despite the small sample and the fact that it does not include the full range of cell types, tumour cell composition seemed to affect accuracy.

Conclusions: Elastography is easy and rapid to perform. Larger studies are needed to establish semiological patterns; despite the small patient sample, these data provide an interesting contribution.