Eficácia da Elastografia para diferenciação dos nódulos mamários

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study Elastography as a promising technique that makes it possible to evaluate breast nodules by color indication, with the help of the Breast Imaging Data and Reporting System (BI-RADS). However, it is a subjective technique with interobservational variations, often leading to biopsies. Breast biopsy is a well accepted method for detecting malignant nodules, however it is an invasive procedure with risks of complications, such as infection, hematoma, among others. One way to mitigate this subjectivity is the quantification of the image data obtained by elastography, to assess the types of breast nodules by color indication, considering the BI-RADS System, in standardized terminology on ultrasound characteristics, evaluations and recommendations. The objectives of this study are to evaluate elastography to differentiate the types of nodules, using BI-RADS as a comparison; identify the types of breast nodules in mode B ultrasound elastography, compare the nodules identified in the elastography as the BI-RADS classification and the anatomopathological result of the nodules classified as BI-RADS 4 and 5, these being biopsied. The study included men and women with breast nodules seen in conventional mode B ultrasound, aged 20 to 80 years, who signed the free and informed consent form. As an exclusion criterion, the absence of nodules visualized by conventional B-mode ultrasound was established. The data collected were used solely and exclusively in this work, guaranteeing patients their anonymity and confidentiality. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between elastography and BI-RADS, since the nodules classified as suspect to BI-RADS, presented a larger rigid area, in addition, the relation of elastography with the types of breast nodules (Benign x Malignant), was shown to be adequate, since the malignant nodules presented an average percentage of rigid area greater than the benign nodules, this fact proving with biopsy and subsequent histological study (gold standard for the diagnosis of breast cancer ). Therefore, the Sonoelastography associated with the calculation of the rigid area can increase the likelihood of a diagnosis of breast cancer, and can be used in routine breast assessment and decrease unnecessary biopsy rates.