Predictive Value for Malignancy of Suspicious Breast Masses of BI-RADS Categories 4 and 5 Using Ultrasound Elastography and MR Diffusion-Weighted Imaging

Predictive Value for Malignancy of Suspicious Breast Masses of BI-RADS Categories 4 and 5 Using Ultrasound Elastography and MR Diffusion-Weighted Imaging
Hiroko Satake, Akiko Nishio, Mitsuru Ikeda, Satoko Ishigaki, Kazuhiro Shimamoto, Maki Hirano, and Shinji Naganawa
AJR 2011; 196:202-209

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In the analysis of all 115 breast masses, the elasticity score was predictive of malignancy, whereas the ADC value was not independently predictive. In an analysis of the 52 masses assessed as BI-RADS category 4, the elasticity score was found to be a significant predictor of malignancy, compared with the ADC value, which was a nonsignificant predictor. In an analysis of the 63 masses assessed as BI-RADS category 5, neither the elasticity score nor the ADC value was a significant predictor of malignancy.

Our results show that elasticity imaging provides relatively reliable predictions for malignancy, especially in BI-RADS category 4 masses, compared with MR DWI.