Impact factors of imaging quality of three-dimensional shear wave elastography in focal breast lesions / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the impact factors of imaging quality of three-dimensional shear wave elastography (3D-SWE) for focal breast lesions. Methods: A total of 187 patients with focal breast lesions underwent 3D-SWE examination, and the imaging quality was classified into three grades, including Grade 1 (good), Grade 2 (common) and Grade 3 (poor). The impact of additional operating pressure, breast type, coupling agent thickness, and the location, size, depth as well as pathology of lesions on imaging quality were analyzed. Results: Grade 1 images were found in 105 (105/187, 56.15%) patients, Grade 2 images were observed in 59 (59/187, 31.55%) patients, while Grade 3 images were noticed in 23 (23/187, 12.30%) patients. Additional operating pressure, location, pathology, the maximum diameter of lesions, the largest vertical distance from deep side of the lesion to skin and the thickest fat layer in front of the lesion were the impact factors of 3D-SWE imaging quality (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The imaging quality of 3D-SWE is influenced by the additional operating pressure and the location, size, depth and pathology of lesions.