HIGHLIGHTS
- •There is a direct relationship between age, menopausal status, parity, mammographic breast density with elastographic breast stiffness.
- •All mpSWE values were found to be higher in nulliparous and post-menopausal women than premenopausal patients with prior parity.
- •The elastographic breast stiffness in type C and D breast density by mamography is higher than type A and B breast density.
Rationale and Objectives
To evaluate the relationship between quantitative breast parenchyma stiffness by using
multiparametric shear wave elastography (mpSWE) and the potential risk factors of
breast cancer.
Material and methods
The Vmean, Vmax, Vmin, Vsd values were measured with mpSWE from each breast and each
quadrant in all cases under and over the age of 40. Statistical analysis was performed
to evaluate the relationship between breast stiffness and age, side, quadrant, menopausal
status, mammographic breast density, and obstetric history.
Results
The study cohort included 964 breasts of 482 patients, where 342 patients were ≥40
years of age; and 140 cases were <40 years of age with a mean age of 45.07 ± 10.96.
No significant difference in breast stiffness was detected between right and left
breasts (p > 0.05); however, upper quadrants were found to be stiffer than the lower quadrants
(p < 0.05). The effect of age on all values was found to be significant (p < 0.05), and stiffness increased with age. All mpSWE values of post-menopausal cases
were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than premenopausal cases. Nulliparous cases had higher values than cases with
prior parity (p < 0.05). Cases with Type C and D breast density had higher stiffness values than those
with Type A and Type B breast density.
Conclusion
Breast parenchyma shows increased stiffness in in post-menopausal, nulliparous and
older patients and patients with dense breast density. Similar to the mammographic
increased breast density, elastographically increased breast parenchymal stiffness
may be used as a possible risk factor for breast cancer or as a predictor of breast
cancer.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 23, 2021
Accepted:
September 23,
2021
Received in revised form:
September 23,
2021
Received:
August 23,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
