title: Stereoscopic images of breast tumors using 3D real-time tissue elastography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of 3D real-time tissue elastography (RTE) images for diagnosing breast tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 166 breast tumor patients who underwent conventional ultrasound and 2D and 3D RTE examinations were retrospectively analyzed. The 3D RTE images were divided into three types according to the occupancy of blue contrast images. Elastic scores (ES) were obtained by 2D RTE examination. The diagnostic accuracy of 3D and 2D RTE images in differentiating malignant from benign breast tumors was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all cases, 89.4 % of the malignant cases were Type 3 and 86.6 % of the benign cases were Type 1 or 2 according to 3D RTE images. 3D RTE Type 3 and ES ≥ 4 on 2D RTE examination diagnosed malignant tumors with an accuracy of 87.4 and 88.6 %, respectively. In addition, among 34 patients with an ES of 3, the presence of 3D RTE Type 3 diagnosed malignant tumors with an accuracy of 82.4 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the utility of 3D RTE images was comparable to that of ES on 2D RTE examination in differentiating malignant from benign breast tumors. In addition, utilizing 3D RTE images in cases with an ES of 3 on 2D RTE may increase the diagnostic accuracy for breast tumors.
authors.affiliation: Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan. sakonno@dokkyomed.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Sachiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.affiliation: Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Etsuo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.affiliation: Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ejiri
authors.affiliation: Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Misaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawamata
authors.affiliation: Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Naotoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takase
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.|Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidehiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takekawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003199:Computer Systems; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 3D elastography; 3D imaging; Breast ultrasonography; Elastography