Color Doppler ultrasound and spectral analysis of tumor vessels in the differential diagnosis of solid breast masses.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of color Doppler and spectral analysis of specific tumor vessels in the differentiation of benign from malignant breast masses.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with solid breast masses were evaluated with color Doppler ultrasound prospectively. When tumor vessels were visualized, spectral analysis was performed and peak systolic and end diastolic Doppler frequency shifts were recorded. Histology was obtained in all but two cases.


RESULTS
In 28 out of 29 malignant lesions tumor vessels were visualized. Thirteen of 19 benign lesions showed no demonstrable flow. The peak systolic Doppler frequency shifts recorded over the vessels of the malignant breast masses were significantly higher than those of the benign breast masses (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In our preliminary series, spectral Doppler analysis of tumor vessels shows promise in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses.
Sahin-Akyar
G
G
Department of Radiology, University of Ankara, Faculty of Medicine, Ibn-i Sina Hospital, Turkey.
Sumer
H
H
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data