Comparison of Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification and Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification for diagnosis of solid breast tumors of different sizes

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Chen, Ying-pei^{a; b; c; 1} | Han, Ting^{d; 1} | Wu, Rong^{a; b; *} | Yao, Ming-hua^{a; b} | Xu, Guang^{a; b} | Zhao, Li-xia^{a; b} | Liu, Hui^{a; b} | Pu, Huan^{a; b} | Fang, Yan^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China | [b] Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China | [c] Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Changle Road, Shanghai, China | [d] Department of Clinical Nutrition, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Rong Wu, Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301, Yanchangzhong Road, Shanghai 200072, China. Tel.: +86 21 66301031; E-mail: wurong7111@163.com.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) with Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTQ) or Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification (VTIQ) measures shear wave velocity (SWV), which is proportional to tissue stiffness, a diagnostic parameter for malignancy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of VTQ and VTIQ in diagnosing solid breast tumors. METHODS: Conventional ultrasound, VTQ and VTIQ were used to examine 246 solid breast tumors from 230 patients. Tumors were grouped according to size: <10 mm, 10–20 mm, >20 mm. Pathological diagnoses were via histological examination of biopsies. ROC curves were used to assess diagnostic performance and optimal cut-off points for VTQ and VTIQ. RESULTS: For all sizes, SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were higher for malignant versus benign tumors (P < 0.05). SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were both higher for tumors≥10 mm (P < 0.05). Areas under the ROC curves (diagnostic performance index; 0.860–0.952) did not differ significantly between VTQ and VTIQ. Optimal cut-off values for SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were higher for tumors≥10 mm. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of VTQ and VTIQ was moderate to good for solid breast tumors. Although both methods have higher sensitivities in tumors≥10 mm, their overall diagnostic performance was similar for all sizes.

Keywords: Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification, Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification, shear wave velocity, breast tumor, tumor size

DOI: 10.3233/CH-16192

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 235-244, 2016