Dr. Nicola Magarelli, of Catholic University in Rome, and colleagues evaluated the clinical feasibility of a qualitative and quantitative study of benign and malignant superficial soft-tissue lesions using elastography. Each of the 28 participants underwent grayscale ultrasound, power Doppler, and elastography in compression and decompression phases to determine the elasticity of the tissue lesions.
Fourteen of 28 lesions were malignant (all grade 4 or 5) and 14 were benign (10 benign lesions were grade 1 or 2, and four were grade 3). Elastography showed sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 77%, negative predictive value of 100%, positive predictive value of 71%, and accuracy of 86%.
Based on the results, Magarelli's group concluded that the technology could be useful for evaluating these lesions and could serve as a good alternative to biopsy.
