Table 1.

Summarized protocol for quantitative elastography combined with B-mode breast ultrasound for the evaluation of BIRADS 3, BIRADS 4 (A, B and C) and BIRADS 5 lesions at the Breast Imaging and Interventional Radiology Department

Field of view (FoV) delimitation: FoV must include part of the lesion and at least 3 mm of normal adjacent breast tissue

The transducer is immobilized over the breast for 5–10 s to stabilize the image. Immediately after asking the patient to hold their breath, elastographic measurements are taken

Every nodule is measured in at least ten different areas. Mean elasticity, expressed in kiloPascals, is recorded

When the distance between the nodule and the skin surface is less than 5 mm, a thick coat of gel is applied between the transducer and the patient’s skin, to increase the distance between the transducer and the lesion. This allows a better inclusion of the nodule in the field of view (the Software has a fixed field of view that does not include lesions closer than 5 mm or below 50 mm)