The effect of accompanying in situ ductal carcinoma on accuracy of measuring malignant breast tumor size using B-mode ultrasonography and real-time sonoelastography.

Objectives. Clinical estimation of malignant breast tumor size is critical for preoperative planning and is crucial for following up the tumor's response to the therapy in case she receives a neoadjuvant chemotharapy. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accompanies about 25.4% of detected invasive breast cancers. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the presence of DCIS on the accuracy of the ultrasonographic measuring malignant breast tumor size using B-mode and real time elastography. Materials and Methods. We recruited histologically confirmed breast cancer patients in a prospective observational study. Results. We recruited 50 breast cancer patients with a median age of 57.5 years. DCIS was confirmed to accompany 42% (n = 21) of the cases. Tumor size estimation using B-mode sonography (P < 0.001) as well as using real time elastography (P < 0.001). was statistically significant correlated to the actual tumor size. Presence of DCIS in 42% of our recruited patients affected the tumor size estimation using both methods thus losing the correlation between both estimations (P = 0.794). Conclusion. This study shows that the presence of DCIS significantly affects the accuracy of measuring the sizes of malignant breast tumors when using either B-mode ultrasonography or real time elastography.