Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of VueBox quantitative parameters combined with conventional ultrasound features in differentiating Granulomatous Lobular Mastitis (GLM) from early invasive breast cancer (IBC). Methods: Thirty GLM patients and 49 early IBC patients (79 nodules) confirmed by pathological results in our hospital from March 2021 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent the conventional ultrasound exam and contrast-enhanced utrasound (CEUS) exam

and VueBox software was used to draw contrast time-intensity curves and obtained 12 quantitative parameters. Inter-group comparisons were made for quantitative contrast parameters and conventional ultrasound characteristics. Principal component analysis was used to extract important parameters and characteristics for differential diagnosis of early IBC and GLM

and a joint diagnostic model was established. The diagnostic performance of the model was evaluated by drawing receiver operating curve (ROC) and calculating the area under the curve. Results: In comparison of two groups of GLM and early IBC

it showed that lesions’ echo

edge

shape (angulation

burr)

sinus cap sign

infiltration into adipose tissue

tissue edema around the lesion

enhancement

calcification represented statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Compared with the early IBC patients

the GLM patients happened younger age and closer to the nipple

and lesions showed larger diameter and lower mTTI values. The differences were all statistically significant (P<0.05). The ROC area of model consisted of the principal components and lesions’ features was 0.694

the cutoff was 2729.9

and its corresponding sensitivity

specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 83.3%

46.9% and 60.7%

respectively. Conclusion: It is a certain value of differentiating GLMs from early IBCs using CEUS VueBox quantitative parameters combined with conventional ultrasound features

thereby reducing the misdiagnose of GLM and miss diagnosis of IBC patients.