Kenneth Lee comments on diagnostic value of novel ultrasound tools
In the August 2026 edition of Radiology, Kenneth Lee, MD, MBA discusses how novel ultrasound tools could reduce the number of unnecessary interventions performed for histologically benign lesions.
Dr. Lee and Zachary Stewart, MD of Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School, co-wrote an editorial about a research paper called “Shear-Wave Elastography, Superb Microvascular Imaging, and B-mode US for Diagnostic Accuracy in Soft Tissue Tumors.”
This research from David Macía-Suárez, PhD, MD, et al investigates the common challenge of differentiating benign versus malignant soft tissue tumors (STT). The study reported that using shear-wave elastography (SWE) and superb microvascular imaging (SMI) resulted in better diagnostic performance.
“A notable strength of the study by Macía-Suárez et al is that every STT had histologic correlation,” Drs. Lee and Stewart wrote. “By including biopsy-proven benign and malignant lesions, the authors provide a solid ground truth that validates their findings of SWE and SMI as predictors of malignancy.”
This has “direct implications for clinical decision-making, biopsy selection, and treatment planning,” according to Drs. Lee and Stewart.
“Although a definitive management algorithm for triaging STT using SWE and SMI was not established, the authors demonstrated that these advanced (ultrasound) techniques may help increase diagnostic confidence and inform treatment decisions,” Drs. Lee and Stewart conclude.
Read the full editorial called “Diagnostic Value of Elastography, Microvascularity, and Classic US Findings in Evaluating Soft Tissue Tumors” in Radiology.