Diagnostics 2013, 3(1), 117-125; doi:10.3390/diagnostics3010117
Review

Strain Elastography Ultrasound: An Overview with Emphasis on Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Jonathan F. Carlsen* email, Caroline Ewertsenemail, Lars Lönnemail and Michael B. Nielsenemail
Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen OE DK-2100, Denmark
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 31 December 2012; in revised form: 11 February 2013 / Accepted: 20 February 2013 / Published: 25 February 2013
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers)
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Abstract: Strain elastography (SE), which estimates tissue strain, is an adjunct to the conventional ultrasound B-mode examination. We present a short introduction to SE and its clinical use. Furthermore, we present an overview of the 10 largest studies performed on the diagnostic accuracy of SE in breast cancer diagnostics. Eight of 10 studies presented data for both SE and B-mode imaging. Seven studies showed better specificity and accuracy for SE than for B-mode imaging in breast cancer diagnosis. Four studies showed an increase in specificity and accuracy when combining B-mode imaging with SE. The ways of combining B-mode imaging with SE in the diagnosis of breast cancer differed between the five studies. We believe that further studies are needed to establish an optimal algorithm for the combination of B-mode ultrasound and SE in breast cancer.
Keywords: strain elastography; ultrasound; breast cancer; diagnostic accuracy

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Carlsen, J.F.; Ewertsen, C.; Lönn, L.; Nielsen, M.B. Strain Elastography Ultrasound: An Overview with Emphasis on Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Diagnostics 2013, 3, 117-125.

AMA Style

Carlsen JF, Ewertsen C, Lönn L, Nielsen MB. Strain Elastography Ultrasound: An Overview with Emphasis on Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Diagnostics. 2013; 3(1):117-125.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carlsen, Jonathan F.; Ewertsen, Caroline; Lönn, Lars; Nielsen, Michael B. 2013. "Strain Elastography Ultrasound: An Overview with Emphasis on Breast Cancer Diagnosis." Diagnostics 3, no. 1: 117-125.

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