Potential role of shear wave elastography features in medullary breast cancer differentiation

Med Hypotheses. 2020 Nov:144:110021. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110021. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Abstract

Shear wave sonoelastography is a valuable additional technique in differentiation between benign and malignant breast lesions. In this paper, a hypothesis of the potential role of this additional ultrasound technique as a very useful tool in differentiation of a medullary breast cancer subtype is proposed. Medullary breast cancer is a rare subtype, difficult for diagnosing, due to its benign radiologic features that can mislead to the wrong conclusion. After analyzing the results of nine patients diagnosed with medullary breast cancer and in comparison with two control groups (invasive ductal cancer of no specific type and fibroadenoma), we concluded that this breast cancer subtype shows specific elastography features based on qualitative and quantitative values.

MeSH terms

  • Breast / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Elasticity Imaging Techniques*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Ultrasonography, Mammary