ArticleEuropean radiology2025
Breast density assessment via quantitative sound-speed measurement using conventional ultrasound transducers.
Article in European radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Physics-based simulation of ultrasound propagation from MRI volumes for cross-modal breast imaging.Journal of biological engineering · 2026Article
- Ultrasound-derived tibia-fascia angle for noninvasive assessment of intracompartmental pressure in tibial plateau fractures.PloS one · 2026Observational
- Spatial Coherence-Based Sound Speed Estimation in Plane Wave Ultrasound Imaging.IEEE transactions on ultrasonics · 2026Article
- Breast density classification using frequency-based features in microwave imaging.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Uncertainty estimation for trust attribution to speed-of-sound reconstruction with variational networks.International journal of computer assisted radiology and surgery · 2025Article
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5 authors.
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Abstract
objectivesThe aim is to assess the feasibility and accuracy of a novel quantitative ultrasound (US) method based on global speed-of-sound (g-SoS) measurement using conventional US machines, for breast density assessment in comparison to mammographic ACR (m-ACR) categories. MATERIALS AND
methodsIn a prospective study, g-SoS was assessed in the upper-outer breast quadrant of 100 women, with 92 of them also having m-ACR assessed by two radiologists across the entire breast. For g-SoS, ultrasonic waves were transmitted from varying transducer locations and the image misalignments between these were then related analytically to breast SoS. To test reproducibility, two consecutive g-SoS acquisitions each were taken at two similar breast locations by the same operator.
resultsMeasurements were found highly repeatable, with a mean absolute difference ± standard deviation of 3.16 ± 3.79 m/s. Multiple measurements were combined yielding a single g-SoS estimate per each patient, which strongly correlated to m-ACR categories (Spearman's = 0.773). The g-SoS values for categories A-D were 1459.6 ± 0.74, 1475.6 ± 15.92, 1515.6 ± 27.10, and 1545.7 ± 20.62, with all groups (except A-B) being significantly different from each other. Dense breasts (m-ACR C&D) were classified with 100% specificity at 78% sensitivity, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.931. Extremely dense breasts (m-ACR D) were classified with 100% sensitivity at 77.5% specificity (AUC = 0.906).
conclusionQuantitative g-SoS measurement of the breast was shown feasible and repeatable using conventional US machines, with values correlating strongly with m-ACR assessments. KEY POINTS: Question Breast density is a strong predictor of risk for breast cancer, which frequently develops in dense tissue regions. Therefore, density assessment calls for refined non-ionizing methods. Findings Quantitative global speed-of-sound (g-SoS) measurement of the breast is shown to be feasible using conventional US machines, repeatable, and able to classify breast density with high accuracy. Clinical relevance Being effective in classifying dense breasts, where mammography has reduced sensitivity, g-SoS can help stratify patients for alternative modalities. Ideal day for mammography or MRI can be determined by monitoring g-SoS. Furthermore, g-SoS can be integrated into personalized risk assessment.
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