Quantifying Textural Heterogeneity of Ultrasound Images in Breast Fibroadenomas

Fibroadenomas (FAs) are a common benign solid breast tumors that can exhibit diverse sonographic appearances mimicking malignant tumors, emphasizing the need for quantitative assessment in three dimensions. This study aims to explore the heterogeneity within FAs, specifically examining backscatter textural and stiffness variations in FAs using ultrasound imaging. Increased stiffness values, indicative of possible malignancy, can arise from stromal involvement and cellular diversity. Conventional two-dimensional ultrasound, conducted along limited planes, may overlook the intra-tumor heterogeneity influencing stiffness in specific regions. The objective of this work is to explore the intra and inter-tumor textural variations in FA using three-dimensional B-mode and shear wave elastography, thereby advancing our understanding on the sonographic appearances of fibroadenoma and their association with stiffness values.