Comparison of Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification and Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification for diagnosis of solid breast tumors of different sizes.
BACKGROUND
Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) with Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTQ) or Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification (VTIQ) measures shear wave velocity (SWV), which is proportional to tissue stiffness, a diagnostic parameter for malignancy.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the performance of VTQ and VTIQ in diagnosing solid breast tumors.


METHODS
Conventional ultrasound, VTQ and VTIQ were used to examine 246 solid breast tumors from 230 patients. Tumors were grouped according to size: <10 mm, 10-20 mm, >20 mm. Pathological diagnoses were via histological examination of biopsies. ROC curves were used to assess diagnostic performance and optimal cut-off points for VTQ and VTIQ.


RESULTS
For all sizes, SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were higher for malignant versus benign tumors (P < 0.05). SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were both higher for tumors≥10 mm (P < 0.05). Areas under the ROC curves (diagnostic performance index; 0.860-0.952) did not differ significantly between VTQ and VTIQ. Optimal cut-off values for SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were higher for tumors≥10 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic performance of VTQ and VTIQ was moderate to good for solid breast tumors. Although both methods have higher sensitivities in tumors≥10 mm, their overall diagnostic performance was similar for all sizes.
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Changle Road, Shanghai, China.
Ying-Pei
YP
Chen
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.
Ting
T
Han
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.
Rong
R
Wu
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.
Ming-Hua
MH
Yao
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.
Guang
G
Xu
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.
Li-Xia
LX
Zhao
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.
Hui
H
Liu
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.
Huan
H
Pu
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.|Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China.
Yan
Y
Fang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging 
Quantification; Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification; breast tumor; shear wave velocity; tumor size