title: [Sonoelastography usage among German DEGUM-certified breast ultrasound specialists].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sonoelastography of the breast is an emerging technology with evident data in the literature suggesting diagnostic advantages. Our study investigates the current usage of sonoelastography among German DEGUM-certified breast ultrasound specialists.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a standardized questionnaire with 18 items. In 2012, the survey was sent to all members of the breast ultrasound section of the DEGUM (n = 654).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group of survey participants (n = 208) performs 193 025 breast ultrasound examinations and examines 20 110 breast cancers per year. 21.2 % of the participants in the survey use sonoelastography, mainly for diagnostic purposes in BI-RADS®-US 3 and 4 lesions, less often for other categories or under study conditions. The most commonly applied criteria for the evaluation of the elastogram are the Tsukuba Elasticity Score (43.2 %), the fat-lesion ratio (29.5 %) and the determination of tissue stiffness with shear wave elastography expressed in kilopascal (25.0 %). The majority of non-users of elastography (58.6 %) would like to have the option of using sonoelastography in the future.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonoelastography is a feasible and helpful method in the evaluation of breast lesions. A significant number of German ultrasound specialists already apply this technology today. We expect a growing number of sonographers to perform sonoelastography in the near future, provided that they have the necessary ultrasound system and that they are trained in the method. Evidence from the literature and the recommendations of the medical societies support this development.
authors.affiliation: Dept OB/GYN, Hannover Medical School.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wojcinski
authors.affiliation: Dept OB/GYN, Franziskus Hospital, Bielefeld.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
authors.affiliation: Dept OB/GYN, Hermann-Joseph-Hospital, Erkelenz.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Peisker
authors.affiliation: Dept OB/GYN, University Medical Center Freiburg.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beussel
authors.affiliation: Dept OB/GYN, University Hospital Tuebingen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine; D009313:National Health Programs; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data