ELASTOGRAPHY OF BREAST-LESIONS - INITIAL CLINICAL-RESULTS

PURPOSE: To determine the appearance of various breast lesions on elas tograms and to explore the potential of elastography in the diagnosis of breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 46 breast lesions were examined with elastography. Patients underwent biopsy or aspirat ion of all lesions, revealing 15 fibroadenomas, 12 carcinomas, six fib rocystic nodules, and 13 other lesions. The elastogram was generated f rom radio-frequency data collected with use of a 5-MHz linear-array tr ansducer. The elastogram and corresponding sonogram were evaluated by a single observer for lesion visualization, relative brightness, and m argin definition and regularity. The sizes of the lesions at each imag ing examination and at biopsy were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Sof ter tissues such as fat appear as bright areas on elastograms. Firm ti ssues, including parenchyma, cancers, and other masses, appear darker. The cancers were statistically significantly darker than fibroadenoma s (P < .005) and substantially larger on the elastogram than on the so nogram. Seventy-three percent of fibroadenomas and 56% of solid benign lesions could be distinguished from cancers by using lesion brightnes s and size difference. Some cancers that appeared as areas of shadowin g on sonograms appeared as discrete masses on elastograms. CONCLUSION: Elastography has the potential to be useful in the evaluation of area s of shadowing on the sonogram. It also may be helpful in the distinct ion of benign from malignant masses.