Automated breast volume scanning combined with shear wave elastography for diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer

OBJECTIVE  To explore the values of automated breast volume scanning (ABVS) combined with shear wave elastography (SWE) in the differential diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive breast cancers (HER2+BC).

METHODS  In this study, 28 patients with TNBC and 32 patients with HER2+BC were enrolled. The characteristics of ABVS and virtual touch quantification (VTQ) in SWE of all patients were reviewed. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out and the receiver operating characteristic curves of ABVS and ABVS+VTQ were drawn.

RESULTS  In ABVS imaging, the microcalcification, posterior echo, internal echo, shape, and edge had significant difference between TNBC and HER2+BC groups (p<0.05). The regular shape was the independent factor for TNBC (p=0.04, odds ratio [OR]=4.479), and the microcalcification in mass was the independent factor for HER2+BC (p=0.01, OR=2.997). In VTQ imaging, the shear wave velocity (SWV)_max, SWV_min, and SWV_mean in TNBC group were significantly lower than those in HER2+BC group (p<0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ABVS+VTQ in diagnosing TNBC were higher than those of ABVS alone.

CONCLUSIONS  ABVS combined with SWE has certain advantages in differentiating TNBC from HER2+BC, which is helpful for the treatment planning and prognosis judgment.

KEYWORDS
Breast cancer; Ultrasound; Elasticity imaging techniques; Efficiency