Sonographic assessment of breast implants using strain elastography and shear wave elastography in an animal model

Einleitung und Fragestellung To date MRI remains the goldstandard in diagnosing rupture of breast implants. As MRI is an expensive procedure with limited availability, the improvement of sonographic assessment is desirable. A potentially useful tool in this regard is the evaluation of tissue stiffness using ultrasound elastography. Strain elastography gives a qualitative analysis by creating a colored map in the B-mode picture comparing stiffness of adjacent tissue in the region of interest whereas shear wave elastography gives a quantitative analysis. To evaluate the diagnostic benefit of both methods under standardized conditions neglecting individual characteristics of real patients we developed an animal model.

Material und Methodik An animal model was created by preparing an implant site in a chicken breast imitating tissue layers typically covering a breast implant after mastectomy. Broken and intact implants were inserted and measurements were made using strain elastography and shear wave elastography. For strain elastography the resulting imaging was investigated on repeating patterns. The data generated by shear wave elastography was analyzed for significant difference between ruptured and intact implants.

Ergebnisse The animal model generated realistic images comparable to those of a human breast. Hence, the ruptured and intact implants could be compared under standardized conditions. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between intact and ruptured implants concerning data generated by shear wave elastography. Though, the qualitative analysis using strain wave elastography showed different patterns comparing intact and ruptured implants in the animal model. Intact implants showed a characteristic sonographic image of three layers in certain levels.

Zusammenfassung Shear wave elastography does not seem to produce any reliable data for the evaluation of breast implants whereas the qualitative analysis using strain elastography might be a useful tool to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Publication History

Article published online:
29 August 2023