ABSTRACT

Aim:

This study analyzed the B- mode, color and power Doppler signals in solid breast masses and assessed their value in differentiating malignant from benign lesions.

Patient and Methods:

Eighty-three biopsy-proven solid breast masses (25 malignant and 58 be-nign) were evaluated with B-mode, color and/ or power Doppler ultrasonography (US) using a 7,5-12 MHz linear-array transducer. We analyzed the location, shape, and penetration of the Doppler vascular signals in the breast masses. The location of the vascular signals was categorized as cen-tral, peripheral or both. With B-Mode US, Transverse/ sagittal (T/ S) ratios of lesions; echogenicity; acoustic enhancement/ decrease were also evaluated.

Results:

Increased vascularity both in color and power doppler US, is a strong indicator for ma-lignancy. Although the p value is insignificant, doppler features suggestive of malignant lesions were the presence of both peripheral and central vascularity; resistivity index greater than 0,75 (sensitivity: 85%, specificity: 92%) and pulsatility index greater than 1,6 (sensitivity: 95%, specifi-city: 68%). Also, increase in T/ S ratio measured by B-mode US was suggestive of malignancy.

Conclusions:

Color and Power Doppler imaging are both valuable adjunct to conventional B-mode sonography in differentiating between malignant and benign breast lesions.