Comparative analysis of the quantitative parameter method and elasticity color mode method for real-time shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of benign and malignant solid breast lesions.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nTo examine the performance of real-time shear wave elastography (RT-SWE) in routine clinical practice.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis was a prospective study of 500 patients. The elasticity color mode method was judged by a four-mode system. The quantitative parameter method was used to measure the modulus of elasticity of the lesions. Pathologic reports were used as a gold standard to comparatively analyze the diagnostic performance of the two methods.\n\n\nRESULTS\nA total of 553 tumors were detected. The average mode value and the modulus of elasticity (Emax) of the benign breast masses was lower than that of malignant masses (p < 0.05). With Emax = 67.4 as the diagnostic threshold value, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of the two methods were not statistically significant different (p > 0.05).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThe shear wave quantitative parameter method and the elasticity color mode method showed similar performances in the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast masses. The elasticity color mode method is convenient and intuitive, whereas the quantitative parameter method can be used to objectively assess the lesions when it is difficult to score the elasticity of an image, but could not be relied on alone.