[Three-dimensional ultrasound imaging of benign and malignant breast tumors--initial clinical experiences].
Previous experimental and clinical studies showed, that three-dimensional (3-D), i.e. dynamic spatial reconstruction of 2-D ultrasound images is feasible. A rotating acoustic plane helps to visualise the cross-sections serially and in a coordinated manner. When reconstructing the 2-D ultrasound images, surface reconstruction from planar contours of each cross-section is performed (so that the organ limits are defined) and the cross-sectional pictures are reconstructed into 3-D organ images. This approach had been described by the authors on a previous occasion. Another step forward is "transparent" spatial imaging eliminates the source of error involved in contouring. It is important to emphasise, that the 3-D system now described by the authors, yields a spatial image of the organ in question, and does not just present 3 planes of the organ (some authors have been claiming, that such an imaging method is also three-dimensional). Our system enables the imaging of several cross-sectional planes cut through the spatially calculated organ. This results in cross-sections, which cannot be performed by conventional sonography, thus disclosing new perspectives and possibilities. In the present article, the authors describe a clinical pilot study in the diagnosis of carcinomas of the breast. In our opinion, 3-D imaging of the tumours enables the physician to diagnose the status of the tumours; this is demonstrated by the examples of 35 malignant and benign tumours of the breast. In 95% of the cases of malignant tumours and 80% of the benign tumours, the diagnosis proved correct. This paper describes the fundamental possibilities and limitations of the new method.
Sohn
C H
CH
Universitätsfrauenklinik Heidelberg.
Stolz
W
W
Kaufmann
M
M
Bastert
G
G
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012984:Software; D014159:Transducers; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000295:instrumentation*