Correlation of shear wave elastography with molecular subtype and histopathological features in breast carcinoma / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the correlation of quantitative features of shear wave elastography (SWE) of breast cancer with its molecular subtypes and histopathological features. Methods: The 107 lesions of 106 cases of breast cancer confirmed by pathology were examined by conventional ultrasonography and SWE before surgery. The maximum elasticity values (E Max) and elasticity ratio (E ratio) were recorded. We also recorded the immunohistochemical features including clinical pathological features and molecular subtypes (Luminal A, Luminal B, Erb-B2 overexpression and Basal-like), and analyzed its correlation with E Max and E ratio. Results: There were significant differences in mass size, pathological grade, BI-RADS classification, E Max and E ratio between the 4 subtypes (P<0.05). As for hardness among the 4 subtypes, the largest one was Erb-B2 overexpression, followed by Luminal-like and the smallest was Basal-like, with statistically significant differences among the subgroups (P<0.05). The stiffness of various pathological types of breast cancer was disparate, among which mucous carcinoma was the hardest, followed by ductal carcinoma and medullary carcinoma, and lobular carcinoma was the softest. The E Max and E ratio increased with the increase of mass size with linear correlation. The higher the pathological grade and BI-RADS classification of the lesion, the greater value of E Max and E ratio, with significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion: There is a certain degree of correlation between the stiffness of breast cancer and its molecular subtypes and histopathological features. The evaluation of lesions by SWE can provide important reference for endocrine therapy and prognosis evaluation of breast cancer.