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Variations in the Elasticity of Breast Tissue During the Menstrual Cycle Determined by Real‐time Sonoelastography
Author(s) -
Wojcinski Sebastian,
Cassel Michael,
Farrokh Andre,
Soliman Amr A.,
Hille Ursula,
Schmidt Werner,
Degenhardt Friedrich,
Hillemanns Peter
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2012.31.1.63
Subject(s) - medicine , menstrual cycle , elasticity (physics) , gynecology , obstetrics , hormone , materials science , composite material
Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the dependence of breast tissue elasticity on the menstrual cycle of healthy volunteers by means of real‐time sonoelastography. Methods Twenty‐two healthy volunteers (aged 18–33 years) were examined once weekly during two consecutive menstrual cycles using sonoelastography. Group 1 (n= 10) was not taking hormonal medication; group 2 (n = 12) was taking oral contraceptives. Results The breast parenchyma appeared softer than the dermis and harder than the adipose tissue, and elasticity varied over the menstrual cycle and between groups. Group 1 (no hormone intake) showed continuously increasing elasticity with relatively soft breast parenchyma in the menstrual and follicular phases and harder parenchyma in the luteal phase ( P = .012). Group 2 (oral contraceptives) showed no statistically significant changes in breast parenchymal elasticity according to sonoelastography. The parenchyma was generally softer in group 1 compared with group 2 throughout the menstrual cycle ( P = .033). The dermis, the subcutaneous adipose tissue, and the pectoralis major muscle showed no changes in elasticity. Comparison of measurements made during the first and the second menstrual cycles showed similar patterns of elasticity in both groups. Conclusions Sonoelastography is a reproducible method that can be used to determine the dependence of breast parenchyma elasticity on the menstrual cycle and on the intake of hormonal contraceptives.