title: Gray scale histogram analysis of solid breast lesions with ultrasonography: can lesion echogenicity ratio be used to differentiate the malignancy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of lesion echogenicity ratios (LER) calculated by image histogram analysis for distinction of malignant and benign breast lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 55 patients (mean age, 44 years) with 59 lesions were included. Ultrasound images were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean LER values in benign and malignant lesions were 1.63±0.41 and 3.1±0.87, respectively. The difference between LER values of benign and malignant breast lesions was statistically significant (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LER can be used as an adjunct ultrasound parameter to differentiate between benign and malignant breast lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. Electronic address: dr.bekirerol@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Taylan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gürses
authors.forename: Rojbin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karakoyun
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köroğlu
authors.forename: Dinç
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Süren
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bülbüller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breast cancer; Lesion echogenicity ratio; Ultrasonography