Prediction of pathological complete response in breast cancer patients during neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Is shear wave elastography a useful tool in clinical routine?

•Clinical trial of SWE during clinical routine for prediction of pCR in BC patients.•SWE monitors reduced tumour stiffness during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in BC.•pCR cases show higher reduction in shear wave velocity after only two NACT cycles.•SWE shows improved sensitivity, high NPV, low FNR compared to standard assessment.•SWE failed in specificity in order to predict pCR under routine conditions.