title: Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging with virtual touch tissue quantification: measurements of normal breast tissue and dependence on the degree of pre-compression.
abstract: Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) with Virtual Touch tissue quantification (VTTQ) enables the determination of shear wave velocity in meters per second (m/s). We investigated shear wave velocity in normal breast tissue and analyzed the influence of the degree of pre-compression on the measurements. In repeated measurements and with normal pre-compression, the mean shear wave velocity in breast parenchyma was significantly higher than that in breast adipose tissue (3.33 ± 1.18 m/s vs. 2.90 ± 1.10 m/s; p < 0.001; 712 measurements in 89 patients). Furthermore, we found a significant positive correlation between degree of pre-compression and velocity measurements. Shear wave velocities with low, moderate and high pre-compression were 1.89, 3.18 and 4.39 m/s in parenchyma, compared with 1.46, 2.55 and 3.64 m/s in adipose tissue, respectively (p < 0.001; 360 measurements in 60 patients). VTTQ of breast tissue is a feasible method with high accuracy; however, the degree of pre-compression applied may significantly influence the measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: s@wojcinski.de.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wojcinski
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brandhorst
authors.forename: Gelareh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sadigh
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hillemanns
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology*; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000502:physiology; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation / Q000379:methods*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D033081:Shear Strength / Q000502:physiology; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging; Breast; Elastography; Shear wave velocity; Virtual Touch tissue quantification