Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and shear-wave elastography for breast lesions of sub-centimeter

BACKGROUD: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) are used for diagnostic purposes. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the diagnostic value of CEUS and SWE for breast lesions of sub-centimeter diameter. METHODS: Sixty-two patients (mean age: 49.3 +/- 12.1 years) with 66 lesions (mean diameter, 8.1 +/- 1.5 mm) were analyzed. Conventional ultrasound (US), CEUS and SWE were undertaken. Pathologic specimens were obtained through biopsy or surgery. Lesions were measured in kilopascals. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were analyzed. RESULTS: For conventional US, the sensitivity was 92.31%, specificity 28.30%, PPV 24.00%, NPV 93.75%, and accuracy 40.90%, whereas those for SWE were 61.54%, 98.11%, 88.89%, 91.23%, and 90.91% (p = 0.000) and CEUS were 92.31%, 60.38%, 36.37%, 96.97%, and 66.67% (p = 0.001), respectively. For SWE + CEUS, the sensitivity was 61.54%, specificity 100.00%, PPV 100.00%, NPV 91.38%, and accuracy 92.42% (p = 0.000). There was a significant difference between US and CEUS (p = 0.004), but not for SWE or SWE + CEUS (p = 0.568; p = 0.205). For SWE + CEUS, there was a significant difference with SWE alone and CEUS alone (p = 0.000; p = 0.008). Between SWE and CEUS, the difference was significant (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: SWE and CEUS could help to differentiate between malignant and benign breast lesions <1 cm in diameter.