Avoiding potential sources of error in breast ultrasound elastography

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to establish several factors which influence the quality of an elastographic examination in breast pathology. Methods: In our ongoing study, which began in April 2007, we have examined 40 patients with focal breast lesions. All patients were examined using both 2D and Doppler ultrasound and elastography. The reference standard was the pathologic diagnosis. We tried to determine the importance of certain technical factors, such as: the type of section, the size of the region of interest, the degree of compression. We also studied in which way the characteristics of t…