Solid breast neoplasms: differential diagnosis with pulsed Doppler ultrasound.
In this prospective study, duplex Doppler ultrasound was used in 95 consecutive patients with solid breast masses to evaluate the presence of neovascular flow. A positive Doppler signal, i.e., a Doppler shift frequency of more than 1 kHz using a 5 MHz insonating frequency, was found in 34 of 57 patients with a carcinoma, and also in three patients with a benign condition. These results indicate that negative findings with pulsed Doppler ultrasound cannot be used to exclude malignancy. However, a frequency shift of more than 1 kHz indicates a high probability for malignancy. In our study a high frequency shift was not related to tumor size. We also evaluated the correlation between a high frequency shift and axillary nodal metastasis. According to our results there is a very low chance of axillary metastasis when no high frequency shifts are found.
Kuijpers
T J
TJ
Department of Radiology, Dr. Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Obdeijn
A I
AI
Kruyt
R H
RH
Oudkerk
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary