title: Through-transmission US applied to breast imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of a new method of through-transmission ultrasonography (US) to breast imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through-transmission US was used to image breast tissue in 18 women; 12 had no known lesions, and six had masses, five of which were palpable. Of those with no known lesions, two had implants, and two had mammary duct ectasia. Lesion sizes and locations on the through-transmission sonograms were correlated with findings from conventional imaging to determine successful imaging. Histopathologic findings and lesion size were recorded from pathology reports. Detailed comparative analyses of through-transmission US, conventional x-ray mammography, and conventional US were performed. The following lesion variables were compared: maximum diameter, shape, margins, and internal architecture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Through-transmission US produced images of all masses, some of which were mammographically occult. Comparisons among through-transmission US, mammography, and conventional US showed high correlation in lesion characteristics such as maximum diameter, shape, margins, and internal architecture. For two malignant masses, through-transmission US appeared to be more accurate in assessing tumor extent, compared with mammography and conventional US.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new method of through-transmission US produces images of breast tissue in women with a variety of breast types and can be used to detect and characterize a variety of lesions, some of which are mammographically occult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle 98195-7115, USA.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fecht
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Shelby
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Shelby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018427:Breast Implants; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*