Stereoscopic images of breast tumors using 3D real-time tissue elastography

Sachiyo Konno; Etsuo Takada; Natsuki Ejiri; Misaki Kawamata; Naotoshi Takase; Yoshimasa Nakazato; Keisuke Suzuki; Hidehiro Takekawa

doi:10.1007/s10396-015-0618-4

Stereoscopic images of breast tumors using 3D real-time tissue elastography

J Med Ultrason (2001). 2015 Jul;42(3):365-71. doi: 10.1007/s10396-015-0618-4. Epub 2015 Feb 24.

Authors

Sachiyo Konno¹, Etsuo Takada², Natsuki Ejiri², Misaki Kawamata², Naotoshi Takase², Yoshimasa Nakazato³, Keisuke Suzuki⁴, Hidehiro Takekawa^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan. sakonno@dokkyomed.ac.jp.
² Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
³ Department of Pathology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
⁴ Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.

PMID: 26576788
DOI: 10.1007/s10396-015-0618-4

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of 3D real-time tissue elastography (RTE) images for diagnosing breast tumors.

Methods: A total of 166 breast tumor patients who underwent conventional ultrasound and 2D and 3D RTE examinations were retrospectively analyzed. The 3D RTE images were divided into three types according to the occupancy of blue contrast images. Elastic scores (ES) were obtained by 2D RTE examination. The diagnostic accuracy of 3D and 2D RTE images in differentiating malignant from benign breast tumors was evaluated.

Results: Of all cases, 89.4 % of the malignant cases were Type 3 and 86.6 % of the benign cases were Type 1 or 2 according to 3D RTE images. 3D RTE Type 3 and ES ≥ 4 on 2D RTE examination diagnosed malignant tumors with an accuracy of 87.4 and 88.6 %, respectively. In addition, among 34 patients with an ES of 3, the presence of 3D RTE Type 3 diagnosed malignant tumors with an accuracy of 82.4 %.

Conclusion: In this study, the utility of 3D RTE images was comparable to that of ES on 2D RTE examination in differentiating malignant from benign breast tumors. In addition, utilizing 3D RTE images in cases with an ES of 3 on 2D RTE may increase the diagnostic accuracy for breast tumors.

Keywords: 3D elastography; 3D imaging; Breast ultrasonography; Elastography.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
Computer Systems
Elasticity Imaging Techniques* / instrumentation
Equipment Design
Female
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*
Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Young Adult