Diagnostic value of multimodal ultrasound strategies in the differentiation of non‐mass‐like breast lesions

Abstract

Purpose The study aims to assess the diagnostic performance of convention ultrasound (US), Angio PLUS microvascular US imaging (AP), and shear‐wave elastography (SWE) in differentiating malignant and benign non‐mass‐like (NML) breast lesions. Methods Sixty patients aged 21–70 years with 60 NML lesions were recruited. All patients were examined by conventional US, AP, and SWE. According to the pathological results, the performances of the multimodal US strategies were analyzed, while the diagnostic efficiency of AP and SWE in serial and parallel was also explored. Results Age, together with posterior features, microcalcification, and architectural distortion were considered significant in evaluating NML lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of AP combined SWE in serial were 72.7, 96.3, 96.0, 74.3, and 83.3%, while those in parallel were 90.9, 63.0, 75.0, 85.0, and 78.3%, respectively. The two in serial indicated the highest specificity, PPV, accuracy, and AUC value, which could increase the true positive rate and reduce the chance of misdiagnosis, while the two in parallel exhibited the best sensitivity and NPV, which might serve as an effective tool to avoid excessive or nonessential biopsy. Conclusion The multimodal US strategies could provide precise and reliable diagnostic results for NML breast lesions.

Value of sonoelastography for diagnosis of breast non-mass lesions and comparison with BI-RADS: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…[ 14 ] Wang F et al explored the combined application of SWE and a novel blood flow imaging technique called Angio PLUS microvascular US imaging for diagnosing breast non-mass lesions and found an accuracy of 78.3% to 88.3%. [ 27 ] These studies indicated that sonoelastography played a good complementary role on conventional US.…”