[Direct in-vitro measurement of ultrasound velocity in carcinomas, mastopathic tissue, fatty tissue and fibroadenomas of the female breast].
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to investigate ultrasound velocity (SV) in carcinomas, fibrocystic changes, fibroadenomas and fatty tissue of the female breast by means of direct in-vitro measurements. We intended to test whether or not differences in SV exist between the various types of tissue and whether the SV is a useful criterion to differentiate the different tissues.


METHODS
SV was measured by comparing transmission time of the ultrasound beam through the specimen and through water. Altogether 40 specimens (12 cancer, 14 fibrocystic changes = FCD, 10 fatty tissues, 3 fibroadenomas, and 1 mixed tissue) were analysed.


RESULTS
Velocity differed significantly between fat (1478.5 +/- 6.5 m/s) and tumor (1523.1 +/- 5.9 m/s) (p approximately 10(-11)) and between fat and FCD (1526.0 +/- 9.0 m/s) (p approximately 10(-12)). No significant differences and much overlap were seen between the ultrasound velocities of tumors and FCD. Ultrasound velocity in fibroadenomas (1533.2 +/- 3.8 m/s) was comparable with that in carcinomas and FCD.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that ultrasound velocity may add complementary information to echogenicity (B-scan). Thus, a locally exact correlation of echogenicity and sound velocity might allow for an improved tissue characterization.
Weiwad
W
W
Klinik für Diagnostische Radiologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.
Heinig
A
A
Götz
L
L
Lampe
D
D
Buchmann
J
J
Millner
R
R
Spielmann
R P
RP
Heywang-Köbrunner
S H
SH
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data