Shear-wave elastography in invasive ductal carcinoma: correlation between quantitative maximum elasticity value and detailed pathological findings

Background: Further information is needed regarding whether histopathological characteristics affect breast tumor elasticity.

Purpose: To determine whether maximum elasticity values vary according to tumor-stroma ratio, dominant stroma type, or presence of fibrosis in invasive breast cancer.

Material and methods: This study included 71 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified (IDC NOS) who underwent breast shear-wave elastography (SWE). Maximum elasticity (Emax) values were retrospectively correlated with pathological findings that included tumor-stroma ratio, dominant stroma type (collagen, fibroblast, lymphocyte), and fibrosis. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine variables independently associated with Emax.

Results: High histologic grade was significantly correlated with higher Emax (P = 0.042). Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression negatively correlated with high elasticity values (P = 0.013 and P = 0.03, respectively). Breast cancers that exhibited higher cellularity demonstrated a greater level of stiffness that was not statistically significant (ρ = 0.153; P = 0.193). While dominant stroma type and fibrosis did not affect Emax (P = 0.197 and P = 0.598, respectively), lesion size was significantly associated with Emax (ρ = 0.474, P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, only lesion size was significantly associated with Emax (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The composition of tumors did not affect their Emax.