Ultrasonography.  2019 Jan;38(1):37-43. 10.14366/usg.17059.

The feasibility of shear wave elastography for diagnosing superficial benign soft tissue masses

• Yeoh HJ
• Kim TY
• Ryu JA

• KMID: 2433290
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14366/usg.17059

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of shear wave ultrasound elastography for differentiating superficial benign soft tissue masses through a comparison of their shear moduli.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 48 masses from 46 patients from February 2014 to May 2016. Surgical excision, fine-needle aspiration, and clinical findings were used for the differential diagnosis. The ultrasonographic examinations were conducted by a single musculoskeletal radiologist, and the ultrasonographic findings were reviewed by two other radiologists who were blinded to the final diagnosis. Conventional ultrasonographic features and the median shear modulus were evaluated. We compared the median shear moduli of epidermoid cysts, ganglion cysts, and lipomatous tumors using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Additionally, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two distinct groups.
RESULTS
Significant differences were found in the median shear moduli of epidermoid cysts, ganglion cysts, and lipomatous tumors (23.7, 5.8, and 9.2 kPa, respectively; P=0.019). Epidermoid cysts showed a greater median shear modulus than ganglion cysts (P=0.014) and lipomatous tumors (P=0.049).
CONCLUSION
Shear wave elastography may contribute to the differential diagnosis of superficial benign soft tissue masses through a direct quantitative analysis.

Keyword

Shear strength; Elasticity imaging techniques; Elastic modulus; Epidermal cyst; Ganglion cysts; Lipoma

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Elastic Modulus
Elasticity Imaging Techniques*
Epidermal Cyst
Ganglion Cysts
Humans
Lipoma
Retrospective Studies
Shear Strength
Ultrasonography