Predictive value of elastography (Shear-Wave and Elasticity Index) in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions: a retrospective study in Peru

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the usefulness of quantitative elastography in the characterization of breast lesions remains limited in Latin America and scarce in Peru. This study aims to fill a relevant scientific gap by establishing specific cut-off points to optimize diagnostic interpretation and improve accuracy in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: . 43 kPa; p < 0.001). According to the adjusted model, the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category remained the most relevant radiological predictor, suggesting that elastography values can be considered complementary for more accurate classification. The optimal SWE cut-off value of ≥ 47.5 kPa demonstrated acceptable diagnostic performance, with a sensitivity of 79.6% and specificity of 67.7%, indicating an adequate ability to distinguish between benign and malignant breast lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents one of the first examples of Peruvian evidence contributing scientific information on the application of quantitative elastography in the evaluation of breast lesions.