Applied value of routine ultrasound and shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the applied value of routine ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE) in the comparison between triple negative breast cancer ( TNBC) and non-triple negative breast cancer (non-TNBC) . Methods A total of 120 lesions in 120 patients with pathologically confirmed breast cancer were retrospectively reviewed ,which were examined by routine ultrasound and SWE before surgery . According to immunohistochemical analysis ,those were divided into TNBC group and non-TNBC group . The features of routine ultrasound ( including shape ,orientation ,margin ,boundary ,echo pattern ,microcalcification ,posterior features of each lesion and blood flow characteristics) and the SWE index[including the average value of the lesion stiffness(Emean) ,the maximum value (Emax) ,the minimum value (Emin) ,the standard deviation (SD) ,and the ratio of the normal breast gland tissue (Eratio)] in the two groups were analyzed and compared . Results ① Two-dimensional ultrasoundTNBC lesions mostly showed the margin of microlobulated ,abrupt boundaries and no internal microcalcification ,but non-TNBC lesions were more likely to have an angular or spiculated margin ,an echogenic halo of boundary and a few microcalcification in the interior ,which were statistically different( P ＜0 .05) . The grade of blood flow and resistance index between TNBC and non-TNBC group showed no statistical difference( P ＞0 .05) . ② The values of Emax ,Emean and Eratio were statistically different( P ＜0 .05) ,with AUCs of 0 .811 ,0 .781 ,and 0 .770 , respectively . Conclusions Routine ultrasound and SWE can comprehensively analyze the morphology ,blood flow and stiffness features of breast lesions ,which provides more valid information to identify T NBC and non-T NBC .