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Sonoelastography for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of superficial soft tissue lesions: a feasibility study

  • Musculoskeletal
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the feasibility of qualitative and quantitative analysis using sonoelastography (SE) for differentiating between benign and malignant superficial soft-tissue lesions.

Methods

For this prospective study, 32 patients with superficial soft-tissue lesions detected with grey-scale ultrasound and colour and/or power Doppler ultrasound were evaluated between October 2011 and December 2012. Qualitative analysis: visual grading system was adopted according to colour variation (red-soft, green-medium, blue-hard). Quantitative analysis: median and fraction area of each colour were computed within a region of interest. Differences between fraction areas and median values in compression and decompression phases were calculated. Reference standard: histological findings.

Results

Twelve out of 32 lesions (37.5 %) were malignant. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.989 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.980–0.994, P < 0.01) with optimal reliability. Area under the curve was 0.823 (95 % CI 0.677–0.969) and 0.958 (95 % CI 0.989–1.019) for blue and blue area differences, and 0.777 (95 % CI 0.615–0.939) and 0.629 (95 % CI 0.426–0.833) for red and red area differences, respectively. Blue variations predicted malignancy more accurately (variation ≥0.431: 100 % sensitivity, 80 % specificity); the blue area difference was highly accurate.

Conclusions

Preliminary results showed good correlations between SE and reference standards. SE could be useful in the evaluation of superficial soft tissue lesions.

Key Points

• Sonoelastography helps clarify ambiguous soft-tissue lesions identified using conventional ultrasound techniques.

• Addition of this tool increases the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound.

• Sonoelastography provides both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

• Sonoelastography may help clinicians improve patient care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, School of Medicine, “Policlinico A. Gemelli” Largo A. Gemelli 8, Rome, Italy

    Nicola Magarelli, Chiara Carducci, Laura Filograna, Santi Rapisarda, Claudia Dell’Atti, Antonio Leone & Lorenzo Bonomo

  2. Institute of Hygiene, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, School of Medicine, “Policlinico A. Gemelli” Largo A. Gemelli 8, Rome, Italy

    Chiara De Waure

  3. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, School of Medicine, “Policlinico A. Gemelli” Largo A. Gemelli 8, Rome, Italy

    Giulio Maccauro

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Costanza Bucalo

  5. Department of Radiological Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, School of Medicine, University Hospital “A. Gemelli” Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Nicola Magarelli

Authors
  1. Nicola Magarelli
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  2. Chiara Carducci
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  3. Costanza Bucalo
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  4. Laura Filograna
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  5. Santi Rapisarda
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  6. Chiara De Waure
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  7. Claudia Dell’Atti
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  8. Giulio Maccauro
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  9. Antonio Leone
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  10. Lorenzo Bonomo
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Correspondence to Nicola Magarelli.

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Magarelli, N., Carducci, C., Bucalo, C. et al. Sonoelastography for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of superficial soft tissue lesions: a feasibility study. Eur Radiol 24, 566–573 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-3069-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-3069-6

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