Real-Time Shear Wave Elastography In Quanti-Tative Evaluation Of Normal Breast Tissue

Objective To explore a reference range of normal breast by shear wave elasography(SWE) and to investigate the impact factors of the elastic modulus of mammary glands.Methods 276 female volunteers were divided into young groups (20 years old ≤ age＜ 40 years old) and middle age groups (40 years old≤ age≤59 years old).The young group was divided into with and without lactation group. The volunteers were divided into three groups according to the thickness of mammary glands.SWE quantitative elastography were performed in 276 women to obtain the elastic modulus of fatty tissue,mammary glands and pectorals.Results There was statistically significant in elastic modulus (Young’s modulus) of fatty tissue,mammary glands and pectorals (P<0.05).There was no statistically significant in elastic modulus of the right and left breast (P> 0.05).The difference of elastic modulus between different young and middle groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The elatic modulus of mammary glands and the age was positively correlated (r=0.48,P=0.00).The difference of elastic modulus between groups with and without lactation was statistically significant(P<0.05).The difference of elastic modulus among each thickness group was with no statistical significance(P>0.05).Conclusions SWE can quantify the elastic modulus of the normal breast tissue and can provide a reference range of normal breast for diagnosis.