Ultrasound strain elastography for the assessment of breast hardness following breast-conserving therapy

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16469
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Radiation science
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Misugi Urano 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 講師 (10769954)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 乳がん / 超音波 / エラストグラフィ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Twenty two female breast cancer patients underwent conventional B-mode ultrasound and ultrasound strain elastography before and after BCS, and at one month and one year after RT. Heterogeneous echogenicity was noted in the skin in all operated quadrants both before and one month after RT. It was only partially noted in the adjacent and distant quadrants. Echogenic changes for subcutaneous fat and breast parenchyma were partially observed in some quadrants. Comparing one month and one year after RT, echogenic changes for subcutaneous fat decreased in all quadrants. Ultrasound strain elastography in the operated quadrants demonstrated decreased elasticity of the subcutaneous fat and breast parenchyma one month after RT. The strain value of the skin, subcutaneous fat and breast parenchyma one year after RT was higher than those of one month after RT, , although the difference was not statistically significant.

Free Research Field

放射線医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

音響カプラーを使用した乳がん術後乳房の超音波エラストグラフィでの評価により、術後の皮膚肥厚と放射線照射後の皮下脂肪および乳房実質の弾力性の低下を証明した。 乳房浮腫は臨床的な乳房の硬さに重要な役割を果たしており、手術創およびその周囲の線維化は、手術された領域での後期の乳房の硬さに影響を与える可能性がある。ストレイン値 は、乳房温存療法後の乳房浮腫の臨床経過をモニタリングする場合、皮膚の厚さよりも優れたマーカーである可能性がある。乳房術後の超音波エラストグラフィでの評価は乳房浮腫の臨床経過のモニタリングに有用な非侵襲的ツールであると考える。