title: ARFI elastography as a complementary diagnostic method for mammary neoplasia in female dogs - preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the applicability of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography as a complementary method in diagnosing mammary neoplasia in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mammary tumours from 50 female dogs were evaluated and divided into two groups: G1 (benign tissue) and G2 (malignant tumours). The nodules were assessed by B-Mode ultrasonography, qualitative and quantitative acoustic radiation force impulse elastography and histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  B-Mode ultrasound examination was ineffective at separating the tumours into the two groups. Likewise, there was no correlation between the grayscale images of the mammary tissue by qualitative elastography. A difference was found in the deformity of the mammary masses between the malignant and benign groups (P = 0 · 002). Using quantitative elastography, the mean values of shear velocity were 3 · 33 m/s for malignant tumours and 1 · 28 m/s for benign tissue (P < 0 · 0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography may help to differentiate between malignant and benign mammary neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences - São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A R
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Feliciano
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maronezi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Castanheira
authors.forename: A P R
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Canola
authors.forename: W R R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Vicente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography