We aimed to evaluate the differential diagnostic value of a method of computer-assisted
texture analysis in comparison to established ultrasonographic B-mode characteristics
in the examination of solid breast masses. At two centers, 77 patients presenting
with a solid mass on B-mode scan were studied at 7.5 MHz. Description of B-mode appearance
included assessment of tumor shape, borders, presence of an echogenic rim, tissue
architecture, internal echo structure, absorption and elasticity. For statistical
pattern recognition, the following parameters were used: form factor, mean grey level,
signal-to-noise ratio, mean gradient and correlation from the co-occurrence matrix.
At center 1, the most decisive parameter for differential diagnosis was distortion
of tissue architecture (sensitivity, SN, 83%; specificity, SP, 92%) and, at center
2, relation to the adjacent tissue (SN 93%, SP 92%). Among texture parameters, best
discrimination was achieved for correlation from the co-occurrence matrix at center
1 (SN 58%, SP 73%) and for form factor at center 2 (SN 93%, SP 77%). Among sonographic
criteria, the highest contribution to the diagnosis was found for an unsharp border
(odds ratio, OR, 12.2), architectural distortion (OR, 8.6), fixation to skin or chest
wall (OR, 9.0) and fixation to adjacent breast parenchyma (OR, 8.8), according to
texture analysis for parameters form factor (OR 4.0) and correlation from the co-occurrence
matrix (OR 4.7). Ultrasonographic texture analysis can be helpful as an additional
parameter in differential diagnosis of breast tumors, but did not reach differential
diagnostic accuracy of sonomorphologic features.