Diagnostic accuracy of real-time tissue elastography for breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Abstract Objective The present study aimed to determine the accuracy of real-time tissue elastography (RTE) for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods The search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and China Biology Medicine databases from inception through December 31, 2014, without language restrictions. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 12.0 and Meta-Disc version 1.4. We calculated the summary statistics for sensitivity (Sen), specificity (Spe), positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR+/LR - ), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve. Results Ten studies that met all inclusion criteria were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 608 malignant breast lesions and 1292 benign breast tumors were assessed. All breast lesions were histologically confirmed after RTE. The pooled Sen was 0.83 (95% CI = 0.79-0.86); the pooled Spe was 0.86 (95% CI = 0.84-0.88). The pooled LR+ was 9.87 (95% CI = 2.66-36.71); the pooled LR- was 0.20 (95% CI = 0.17-0.23). The pooled DOR of RTE for the diagnosis of breast cancer was 62.21 (95% CI = 33.88-114.24). The area under the SROC curve was 0.9334 (standard error = 0.00125). We found no evidence of publication bias ( t = -0.57, P = 0.582). Conclusion RTE may have high diagnostic accuracy for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors. RTE may be a good tool for breast cancer diagnosis.