title: Shear wave elastography of breast cancer: Sensitivity according to histological type in a large cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the shear wave elastography (SWE) characteristics of breast cancer histological types by size in a large cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with US visible masses underwent SWE. All those with confirmed invasive breast cancer were included in the study. Histologic type was ascertained from core biopsy and surgical resection specimens. For each type, mean and median values for Emean and Emax were ascertained. Commoner tumour types were further analysed by invasive size. The significance of differences was established using the Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1137 tumours constituted the study group. The proportion of tumours with Emean below 50 kPa was higher in tubular cancers (23%) compared to ductal carcinomas of no specific type (DNST) (6%) (p < 0.001). Emax below 80 kPa was seen in 34% of tubular cancers compared to 16% of DNST (p < 0.002). Emean and Emax for lobular, mucinous, papillary and metaplastic cancers were not different from those of DNST. There were no significant differences in Emean or Emax between tumour types once broken down according to invasive size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most breast cancer histological types have similar SWE characteristics. The exception is tubular cancer which has significantly lower stiffness than other histologic types, accounted for largely by their small size.
authors.affiliation: Division of Imaging and Technology Dundee University, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK. Electronic address: a.z.evans@dundee.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Breast Imaging Department, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: Yee Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: Breast Imaging Department, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Purdie
authors.affiliation: Division of Imaging and Technology Dundee University, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vinnicombe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary
keywords: Breast cancer; Histological type; Shear wave elastography; Size; Ultrasound