Combined use of super-resolution ultrasound imaging and shear-wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast masses

ObjectivesShear-wave elastography (SWE) provides valuable stiffness within breast masses, making it a useful supplement to conventional ultrasound imaging. Super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS) imaging enhances microvascular visualization, aiding in the differential diagnosis of breast masses. Current...

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Main Authors: Yu-Meng Lei, Chen Liu, Hai-Man Hu, Nan Li, Ning Zhang, Qi Wang, Shu-E Zeng, Hua-Rong Ye, Ge Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1497140/full
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author Yu-Meng Lei
Chen Liu
Chen Liu
Hai-Man Hu
Nan Li
Ning Zhang
Qi Wang
Shu-E Zeng
Shu-E Zeng
Hua-Rong Ye
Ge Zhang
Ge Zhang
author_facet Yu-Meng Lei
Chen Liu
Chen Liu
Hai-Man Hu
Nan Li
Ning Zhang
Qi Wang
Shu-E Zeng
Shu-E Zeng
Hua-Rong Ye
Ge Zhang
Ge Zhang
author_sort Yu-Meng Lei
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesShear-wave elastography (SWE) provides valuable stiffness within breast masses, making it a useful supplement to conventional ultrasound imaging. Super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS) imaging enhances microvascular visualization, aiding in the differential diagnosis of breast masses. Current clinical ultrasound diagnosis of breast cancer primarily relies on gray-scale ultrasound. The combined diagnostic potential of tissue stiffness and microvascular characteristics, two critical tumor biomarkers, remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between the elastic modulus, assessed using SWE, and microvascular characteristics captured through SRUS, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of combining these techniques in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast masses.Materials and methodsIn this single-center prospective study, 97 patients underwent SWE to obtain parameters including maximum elasticity (Emax), minimum elasticity (Emin), mean elasticity (Emean), standard deviation of elasticity (Esd), and elasticity ratio. SRUS was used to calculate the microvascular flow rate and microvessel density (MVD) within the breast masses. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore correlations between Emax and MVD. Receiver operating characteristic curves and nomogram were employed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of combining SRUS with SWE, using pathological results as the gold standard.ResultsEmax, Emean, Esd, and MVD were significantly higher in malignant breast masses compared to benign ones (p < 0.001), while Emin was significantly lower in malignant masses (p < 0.05). In Spearman correlation analysis, Emax was significantly positively correlated with MVD (p < 0.01). The area under the curve for SRUS combined with SWE (0.924) was significantly higher than that for SWE (0.883) or SRUS (0.830) alone (p < 0.001), thus indicating improved diagnostic accuracy. The decision curve analysis of the nomogram indicated that SWE combined with SRUS model had a higher net benefit in predicting breast cancer.ConclusionsThe MVD of the breast mass shows a significant positive correlation with Emax. By integrating SRUS with SWE, this study proposes a novel diagnostic approach designed to improve specificity and accuracy in breast cancer detection, surpassing the limitations of current ultrasound-based methods. This approach shows promise for early breast cancer detection, with the potential to reduce the need for unnecessary biopsies and improve patient outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-f178e162ba8c4e12a016ec4839affec72024-12-20T05:10:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2024-12-011410.3389/fonc.2024.14971401497140Combined use of super-resolution ultrasound imaging and shear-wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast massesYu-Meng Lei0Chen Liu1Chen Liu2Hai-Man Hu3Nan Li4Ning Zhang5Qi Wang6Shu-E Zeng7Shu-E Zeng8Hua-Rong Ye9Ge Zhang10Ge Zhang11Department of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaMedical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Breast Surgery, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Breast Cancer, Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Breast Cancer, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, China Resources & Wisco General Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital, Wuhan, ChinaObjectivesShear-wave elastography (SWE) provides valuable stiffness within breast masses, making it a useful supplement to conventional ultrasound imaging. Super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS) imaging enhances microvascular visualization, aiding in the differential diagnosis of breast masses. Current clinical ultrasound diagnosis of breast cancer primarily relies on gray-scale ultrasound. The combined diagnostic potential of tissue stiffness and microvascular characteristics, two critical tumor biomarkers, remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between the elastic modulus, assessed using SWE, and microvascular characteristics captured through SRUS, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of combining these techniques in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast masses.Materials and methodsIn this single-center prospective study, 97 patients underwent SWE to obtain parameters including maximum elasticity (Emax), minimum elasticity (Emin), mean elasticity (Emean), standard deviation of elasticity (Esd), and elasticity ratio. SRUS was used to calculate the microvascular flow rate and microvessel density (MVD) within the breast masses. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore correlations between Emax and MVD. Receiver operating characteristic curves and nomogram were employed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of combining SRUS with SWE, using pathological results as the gold standard.ResultsEmax, Emean, Esd, and MVD were significantly higher in malignant breast masses compared to benign ones (p < 0.001), while Emin was significantly lower in malignant masses (p < 0.05). In Spearman correlation analysis, Emax was significantly positively correlated with MVD (p < 0.01). The area under the curve for SRUS combined with SWE (0.924) was significantly higher than that for SWE (0.883) or SRUS (0.830) alone (p < 0.001), thus indicating improved diagnostic accuracy. The decision curve analysis of the nomogram indicated that SWE combined with SRUS model had a higher net benefit in predicting breast cancer.ConclusionsThe MVD of the breast mass shows a significant positive correlation with Emax. By integrating SRUS with SWE, this study proposes a novel diagnostic approach designed to improve specificity and accuracy in breast cancer detection, surpassing the limitations of current ultrasound-based methods. This approach shows promise for early breast cancer detection, with the potential to reduce the need for unnecessary biopsies and improve patient outcomes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1497140/fullbreast massesultrasound imagingsuper-resolution ultrasoundshear-wave elastographydifferential diagnosis
spellingShingle Yu-Meng Lei
Chen Liu
Chen Liu
Hai-Man Hu
Nan Li
Ning Zhang
Qi Wang
Shu-E Zeng
Shu-E Zeng
Hua-Rong Ye
Ge Zhang
Ge Zhang
Combined use of super-resolution ultrasound imaging and shear-wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast masses
Frontiers in Oncology
breast masses
ultrasound imaging
super-resolution ultrasound
shear-wave elastography
differential diagnosis
title Combined use of super-resolution ultrasound imaging and shear-wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast masses
title_full Combined use of super-resolution ultrasound imaging and shear-wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast masses
title_fullStr Combined use of super-resolution ultrasound imaging and shear-wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast masses
title_full_unstemmed Combined use of super-resolution ultrasound imaging and shear-wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast masses
title_short Combined use of super-resolution ultrasound imaging and shear-wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast masses
title_sort combined use of super resolution ultrasound imaging and shear wave elastography for differential diagnosis of breast masses
topic breast masses
ultrasound imaging
super-resolution ultrasound
shear-wave elastography
differential diagnosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1497140/full
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