Combined use of shear-wave elastography and Doppler ultrasonography in equivocal fibroepithelial lesions of the breast diagnosed by core needle biopsy

• Published in: Ultrasonography (Seoul, Korea) Korea), 2023-01, Vol.42 (1), p.31-40
• Main Authors: Choi, Ji Soo, Ko, Eun Young, Kim, Min-Ji, Ko, Eun Sook, Han, Boo-Kyung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biopsy; breast; Breasts; diagnosis; doppler ultrasonography; fibroadenoma; Laboratories; Original; Pathology; Patients; phyllodes tumor; shear-wave elastography; Surgery; Tumors; ultrasound
• ISSN: 2288-5919; 2288-5943
• DOI: 10.14366/usg.22008

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of shear-wave elastography (SWE) combined with Doppler ultrasonography (US) in selecting equivocal breast fibroepithelial lesions (FELs) for follow-up without further excision. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 88 patients with equivocal breast FELs (FELs with the possibility of both fibroadenoma [FA] and phyllodes tumor [PT]) diagnosed by core needle biopsy (CNB). For post-CNB treatment, surgical or vacuum-assisted excision was performed on 88 equivocal FELs, of which 56 were diagnosed as FAs and 32 as PTs on histopathology. Mean elasticity (Emean) and vascularity were determined using SWE and Doppler US. The diagnostic performances of B-mode US, SWE, and Doppler US were calculated to differentiate FAs and PTs in the excised equivocal FELs. In the excised equivocal FELs diagnosed by CNB, FAs showed significantly lower median Emean values (36.4 vs. 66.7 kPa, P=0.005) and more frequent low vascularity (0-1 vessel flow signal) (P60.9 kPa and high vascularity (≥2 vessel flows) showed a sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100%, as well as better performance in other diagnostic values than B-mode US alone (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System ≥4A) (all P