Comparison of sonoelastographic values of breast tissue with mammographically and ultrasonically assessed density: a cross-sectional study

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Martina Džoić Dominković
• Author: Gordana Ivanac
• Author: Boris Brkljačić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Clinical Oncology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Oncology

Abstract (english)

Aim: To determine the relationship between breast stiffness assessed with sonoelastography (elasticity) and breast tissue density assessed with mammography (MG) and ultrasound (US). ----- Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 100 women who underwent MG, gray-scale US, and shear-wave sonoelastography during 2013. Mammographic density was categorized into four groups and sonographic density into three groups according to Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System criteria. The stiffness of breast parenchymal and adipose tissue in all breast quadrants was quantified by shear-wave sonoelastography. Mean elastographic estimates were compared with MG- and US-derived density estimates. ----- Results: Parenchymal and adipose tissue elasticity positively correlated with MG- and US-derived breast density (for parenchyma: for MG Kendall's tau b 0.522; Jonckheere-Terpstra test P<0.001 and for US Kendall's tau b 0.533; Jonckheere-Terpstra test P<0.001); the higher was the breast density on MG and US, the higher was the elastographic stiffness. ----- Conclusion: Sonoelastographic breast stiffness strongly positively correlated with breast density. Thus, sonoelastography may have a potential for estimating the breast cancer risk, which allows a novel application of this technique in routine clinical practice.

• Keywords (english): Adipose Tissue / physiology; Adult; Aged; Breast / diagnostic imaging; Breast / physiology; Breast Density / physiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Elasticity / physiology; Elasticity Imaging Techniques / methods; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Parenchymal Tissue / physiology; Ultrasonography; Ultrasonography, Mammary / methods
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Croatian Medical Journal
• Numbering: vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 223-229
• p-ISSN: 0353-9504
• e-ISSN: 1332-8166
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2020.61.223
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:038633
• Publication: 2020-07-05
• Document URL: http://www.cmj.hr/2020/61/3/32643338.htm
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-10-27 13:38:07