Nicola Magarelli MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chiara Carducci MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Costanza Bucalo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Santi Rapisarda MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Claudia Dell'Atti MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Antonio Leone MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Giulio Maccauro MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Lorenzo Bonomo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the clinical feasibility of a qualitative and quantitative study of benign and malignant superficial soft tissue lesions using sonoelastography (SE)

Research Ethics Committee approval and informed consent for this prospective study were obtained. Twenty-eight patients (mean age,41yrs; range, 21-76 yrs) with superficial soft tissue lesions were evaluated. The examination included gray-scale ultrasonography, power-Doppler and SE study in compression and decompression phases to assess tissue elasticity. For the qualitative analysis, a visual grading system (grade 1-5) was adopted, according to the color variation. The color scheme was red (soft), green (medium stiffness) and blue (hard). For the quantitative analysis Image J software 1.45 was used; each pixel was separated into red, green and blue. The median and the fraction area of each color were computed within a region of interest (ROI) adapted to the lesion. Differences between fraction area and differences between median values in compression and decompression phase were calculated. The histological findings were considered as the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. For the quantitative analysis, Student T-test was used (P< 0.05).

Fourteen of the 28 lesions (50%) were malignant and 14 benign. All malignant lesions were grade 4-5, 10 of 14 of benign lesions were grade 1-2 and 4 of 14 were grade 3 in the qualitative analysis. SE showed a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 77%, a negative predictive value of 100%, a positive predictive value of 71%, and an accuracy of 86%. The differences between median and fraction area values of blue revealed a statistically significant correlation with malignant lesions (respectively p< 0.007;p< 0.002); the red showed a statistically significant correlation with benign lesions (p< 0.01; p< 0.002). No statistically significant correlation for the green (p= 0.30; p= 0.75) with benign and malignant lesions.

Preliminary results showed a good correlation between SE and reference standard. SE could be considered a useful tool in the evaluation of superficial soft tissue lesions.  

The possibility of SE to have a clinical application to reduce the histopathologic examination as reported in literature for breast masses, thyroid nodules, testicular and prostate cancer.

Magarelli, N, Carducci, C, Bucalo, C, Rapisarda, S, Dell'Atti, C, Leone, A, Maccauro, G, Bonomo, L, Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation Using Sonoelastography of Superficial Soft Tissue Lesions: A Feasibility Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12043468.html