Correlation of virtual touch tissue imaging quantification with the Nottingham prognostic index and immunohistochemical features in breast invasive carcinoma

Objectives: To investigate the correlation of virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) with the Nottingham prognostic index (NPI), and immunohistochemical features in breast invasive ductal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: In all, 134 patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma confirmed by histopathology were included. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound and VTIQ to record the average shear wave velocity (SWV) as elasticity mean value (Emean) before the operation; then, postoperative clinical pathology, immunohistochemical features, and NPI score were recorded in order to investigate the correlation of Emean with NPI and immunohistochemical features. Results: Univariate analysis showed that the Emean was in positive correlation with NPI, tumor size, axillary lymph node metastasis, lymph node staging, histology grade, HER-2, and ki67 expressions in breast invasive ductal carcinoma, and the correlation coefficients were positive (r = 0.714, 0.308, 0.635, 0.668, 0.590, 0.221, and 0.559) (p < 0.05). It was in negative correlation with estrogen receptor (ER) (r = -0.373) (p > 0.05) and with progesterone receptor (PR) (r = -0.145) (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that only NPI and ki67 were independently positively correlated with the Emean (r = 0.928, r = 0.276) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The biological characteristics of breast carcinoma can affect its elastic tissue structure, which showed significant association with NPI. Moreover, VTIQ can be used to supplement conventional US to judge the prognosis of breast carcinoma.