Factors Influencing the Finding of Strain Ultrasound Elastography in Benign Subcutaneous Tumors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate factors influencing strain sonoelastography findings in evaluation of subcutaneous tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of sonoelastography findings performed by two radiologists in 38 consecutive patients with 38 pathologically confirmed benign subcutaneous tumors was performed. Elastographic finding of the lesions was graded from 1 (softer) to 3 (harder) according to stiffness. Analysis of correlations between elastographic findings and height, width and depth of the lesion, and the distance from bone was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: By reviewer 1, 11 lesions were grade 1 on sonoelastography, eight were grade 2, and 19 were grade 3, respectively. By reviewer 2, 11 lesions were grade 1 on sonoelastography, nine were grade 2, and 18 were grade 3, respectively. The distance from bone differed significantly among the three grades groups for both reviewers; grade 1, 2, and 3, 0.78 +/- 0.75 cm, 1.56 +/- 0.68 cm, and 1.77 +/- 0.63 cm, for reviewer 1 (P = .006) and 0.86 +/- 0.79 cm, 1.55 +/- 0.72 cm, and 1.74 +/- 0.65 cm for reviewer 2 (P = .016). No significant difference in height, width, and depth of the lesion was observed among the three groups. CONCLUSION: Distance from bone showed a significant association with strain sonoelastographic findings of benign subcutaneous tumors.

Superficial Soft Tissue Masses: Sonographic and Pathologic Findings

Superficial soft tissue masses are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Sonographic imaging is a first-choice screening modality to confirm or exclude the presence of a soft tissue mass at a site of clinical concern. In this pictorial review, we demonstrate the sonographic and pathologic findings of superficial soft tissue masses including benign and malignant lesions, which can occur in the skin and subcutaneous layer.