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Dec. 2, 2009 (Chicago) -- A new test that looks at the stiffness of tissue may help distinguish between cancerous and benign breast lesions, potentially cutting down on unnecessary biopsies, researchers say.
Used in conjunction with breast ultrasound, the new imaging test, known as elastography, correctly identified 98% of cancerous lesions and 78% of those that weren’t cancerous in a study of about 200 women.
"With more research, elastography could impact decisions to not perform biopsies in patients who don’t need them," reducing anxiety and costs, says Stamatia V. Destounis, MD, of the Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Rochester, N.Y.
About 80% of breast lesions that are biopsied turn out to be benign, according to the American Cancer Society.
Destounis presented the findings here at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
When a mammography produces suspicious findings, ultrasound is often performed to further investigate the results.
However, it often results in more biopsies because of its inability to accurately distinguish between cancerous and benign lesions, Destounis tells WebMD.
Adding elastography -- which uses pressure from breathing, heartbeat, or pushing on the skin to measure the stiffness of a lesion -- may help improve correct diagnosis, she says.
Cancerous tumors tend to be stiffer than surrounding tissues or cysts, whereas benign lesions are more compressible, Destounis says.
All that's needed is special software and pushing a button on the ultrasound unit, she says.
The new study involved 193 patients who underwent a total of 198 elastograms and ultrasounds. The doctors biopsied all the solid lesions that were detected.
Elastography correctly identified 98% of the 59 lesions that proved to be cancerous on biopsy.
Of the 69 lesions that turned out to be benign, elastography correctly identified 78% of them.
"We hope to improve on that number as the software continues to improve," Destounis says, adding that elastography has been around for a while but is experiencing a "resurgence."
The new study involved 193 patients who underwent a total of 198 elastograms and ultrasounds. The doctors biopsied all the solid lesions that were detected.
Elastography correctly identified 98% of the 59 lesions that proved to be cancerous on biopsy.
Of the 69 lesions that turned out to be benign, elastography correctly identified 78% of them.
"We hope to improve on that number as the software continues to improve," Destounis says, adding that elastography has been around for a while but is experiencing a "resurgence."
Elastography Also Being Used to Help Diagnose Skin Cancer
In a second study presented at the meeting, researchers found that high-frequency ultrasound plus elastography helped distinguish between cancerous and benign skin lesions.
Mary C. Mahoney, MD, of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and a spokeswoman for RSNA, tells WebMD that elastography is increasing being used for other conditions as well, including the detection of liver and thyroid malignancies.
"The equipment is relatively commonly available, as is the software," says Mahoney, who was not involved with the research.