Ultrasound Elastography for Biomedical Applications and Medicine

35 Breast Shear Wave Elastography

Azra Alizad

Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

35.1 Introduction

Emerging ultrasound elasticity imaging techniques have been of great interest as an adjunct to breast sonography to improve its sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of breast cancer. Among elasticity imaging methods, shear wave elastography has gained much attention in recent years as a new imaging modality for differentiation of breast masses. This chapter focuses on applications of shear wave elastography techniques, more specifically comb‐push ultrasound shear elastography (CUSE) in breast imaging. In addition, we will present the results of in vivo results of breast CUSE. Future developments and potential impact of CUSE in breast imaging are also discussed.

35.2 Background

Today, breast cancer remains a major health problem among women around the world. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women aged 20 to 59 years and second to lung cancer in women 60 and older. According to the American Cancer Society in 2015, over 231 000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur in one year alone, accounting for 29% of all new cancer cases among American women. There is a probability that 1 in 8 women are at risk of developing invasive breast cancer in their lifetime [1]. This data is shown in Table 35.1.

Table 35.1 Estimated new cases and deaths in American women.

Estimated new cases in 2015

231 670