Quantitative Analysis of Shear Wave Elastography and US-Guided Diffuse Optical Tomography for Evaluating Biological Characteristics of Breast Cancer

Rationale and objectives: Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) and Ultrasound-guided Diffuse Optical Tomography (US-guided DOT) demonstrate promise in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. This study aims to assess the feasibility and correlation of SWE and US-guided DOT in evaluating the biological characteristics of breast cancer.

Materials and methods: A cohort of 235 breast cancer patients with 238 lesions, scheduled for surgery within one to three days, underwent B-mode ultrasound (US), US-guided DOT, and SWE. Parameters such as Total Hemoglobin Concentration (THC), Maximal Elasticity (E_max), Mean Elasticity (E_mean), Standard Deviation of Elasticity (E_sd), and Area Ratio were measured. Correlation with post-surgical pathology reports was examined to explore associations between THC, SWE Parameters, and pathology characteristics.

Results: Lesions in patient groups with ER-, PR-, HER2 + , high Ki67, LVI+ , and ALN+ exhibited higher THC, E_max, and E_sd compared to groups with ER+ , PR+ , HER2-, low Ki67, LVI-, and ALN-. The increase was seen in all grades of IDC-I to -III. THC significantly correlated with S_max (r = 0.340, P < 0.001), E_max (r = 0.339, P < 0.001), E_mean (r = 0.201, P = 0.003), and E_sd (r = 0.313, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: US-guided DOT and SWE prove valuable for the quantitative assessment of breast cancer's biological characteristics, with THC positively correlated with E_max, E_mean, and E_sd.