Shear-wave elastography of invasive breast cancer: correlation between quantitative mean elasticity value and immunohistochemical profile

To compare the mean elasticity value, as measured by shear-wave elastography (SWE), with immunohistochemical profile of invasive breast cancer. This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study, with a waiver of informed consent. A total of 166 invasive breast cancers in 152 women undergoing preoperative SWE and surgery were included. Quantitative mean elasticity values in kPa were measured for each lesion by using SWE. Medical records were reviewed to determine palpability, invasive size, lymphovascular invasion, histologic grade, and axillary lymph node status. Based on the immunohistochemical profiles, tumor subtypes were categorized as triple-negative (TN), luminal A and B, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched cancer. The mean elasticity value was correlated with clinicopathological features using univariate regression models and multivariate linear regression analysis. Palpability (P < 0.0001), larger size (P = 0.013), lymphovascular invasion (P < 0.0001), higher histologic grade (P < 0.0001), and lymph node involvement (P = 0.018) were significantly associated with the mean elasticity value. For the immunohistochemical profiles and tumor subtypes, the estrogen receptor (P = 0.015), progesterone receptor (P = 0.002), Ki-67 (P = 0.009), and the TN (P = 0.009) tumor subtype were correlated with the mean elasticity value. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the following variables were significantly associated with the mean elasticity value: palpable abnormality, histologic grade, and lymphovascular invasion. No immunohistochemical profile of the cancers was independently correlated with the mean elasticity value. For invasive breast cancers, clinicopathological features of poor prognosis showed higher mean elasticity values than those of good prognosis. However, the immunohistochemical profile showed no independent association with the mean elasticity value.