Correlation of the Strain Elastography-Derived Elasticity Scores with Prognostic Histologic Features, Immunohistochemical Markers, and Molecular Subtypes of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE@#To investigate the correlation of the strain elasticity of breast cancer with histologic features, immunohistochemical markers and molecular subtypes that are known to be factors related to prognosis.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#B-mode ultrasound and strain elastography were performed in 123 patients (mean age, 53.4; range, 28–82) with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) (mean size, 1.54 cm; range, 0.4–7.0 cm). Histologic grade, lymph node (LN) status, lymphovascular invasion, immunohistochemical biomarkers [estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), CK5/6, epidermal growth factor receptor, and Ki-67] and molecular subtypes were determined from surgical pathology reports. The relationships between these factors and elasticity scores were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#LN involvement was associated with a higher elasticity score which was statistically significant (p = 0.042). The tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, histologic grades, immunohistochemical markers and molecular subtypes had no significant correlation with the elasticity score (p > 0.05 for all). However, the IDCs with larger size and a positive lymphovascular invasion tended to have higher elasticity scores. Furthermore, higher histologic grade cancers and the HER2 overexpression-type tended to have lower elasticity scores.@*CONCLUSION@#The elasticity score of IDC had a significant correlation with LN involvement but no statistically significant correlation with the histologic features, immunohistochemical markers or molecular subtypes.