[Elastography of the breast: a prospective study of 122 lesions].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate elastography in the characterization of breast nodules.


METHODS
Elastography (Hitachi, 7.5- to 13-MHz probe; Ueno classification, scores 1-3=benign, 4-5=malignant) was evaluated in 125 subclinical lesions in 114 patients. The results were compared to those of the ACR's BI-RADS sonography categories (benign=2 and 3, malignant=4 and 5) and to the results of the percutaneous samples taken and/or surgery (122 lesions evaluated, 59%<10 mm, 61 cancers, 61 benign lesions).


RESULTS
There were three technical failures (2.4%). The elastography was in agreement with histology for 101 lesions, with 13 false-negative results and eight false-positive results (sensitivity, 78.7%; specificity, 86.9%; PPV, 85.7%; NPV, 80.3%); versus agreement with the BI-RADS classification for 98 lesions with one false-negative result and 23 false-positive results (sensitivity, 98.4%; specificity, 47.5%; PPV, 65.2%; NPV, 96.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Elastography is a simple and rapid complementary method that can improve the specificity and the PPV of morphological imaging studies of breast nodules with a low level of suspicion (BI-RADS categories 3 and 4a), which should decrease the rate of unnecessary benign biopsies.
Tardivon
A
A
Service de Radiologie, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris cedex 05. anne.tardivon@curie.net
El Khoury
C
C
Thibault
F
F
Wyler
A
A
Barreau
B
B
Neuenschwander
S
S
D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004548:Elasticity; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010173:Palpation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*