Addition of the elastography i̇n di̇fferenti̇al di̇agnosi̇s of breast masses and confi̇rmati̇on wi̇th hi̇stopathologi̇c correlati̇on

Purpose: MG (mammography) and US (ultrasonography) are primarily used in the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer in woman. However, mammography and ultrasonography have not sufficient yet during early diagnosis in breast cancer and preventing the unnecessary biopsy procedures. In our study, it was aimed to investigate the efficacy of elastography techniques in the benign-malignant differentiation of breast lesions. Methods: Fiftyeight patients with biopsy indication according to BIRADS score, participated in our study. E-index measurements of the breast lesions were performed after compression compression's level is determined by device using the technique of strain elastography. Strain-ratio measurements, which are the ratio of normal breast tissue and elasticity of lesions were performed. Color mapping was performed with shear-wave technique that shows the degree of elasticity within the lesion's border. Shearwave velocity measurements were made from the hardest point of the lesion according to color mapping. Obtained measurements were evaluated prospectively with reference to biopsy results of the lesions. Findings: The mean age of 58 patients was 46.9±11, and the mean size of 58 lesions was 29.4±12.7. The mean E-index values were 3.9 for malignant lesions, 2.1 for benign lesions and the mean E-ratio values were 5,0 ± 2,6 for malign lesions, 1,6 for benign lesions in strain elastography techniques. The mean values of the shearwave (m/sec) velocities of the lesions were measured as 6,3±1,3 in malign lesions and 4.3 in benign lesions. E-index, E-ratio and shearwave speed parameters of the malignant group were significantly higher than the benign group. Conclusion: SE (sonoelastography) techniques are very successful to distinguish malign lesions from benign lesions and the techniques have high diagnostic value in breast cancer. SE can be practically applied routinely with B-Mode US and MG tests in screening and diagnosis of breast cancer. We think that SE techniques may reduce the need for biopsy in the future, which is still considered the gold standard method for breast lesions. Key words: Sonoelastography, breast lesions, strain ratio, shear wave