Assessment of breast lesions using Doppler with contrast agents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of contrast agents on ultrasound examination of breast lesions and to analyse the capacity of this technique to achieve a differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions, using as a pattern a histological study of the lesions.


METHODS
Seventy-two women with suspected malignant breast lesions participated in this randomised prospective study, undergoing a colour Doppler ultrasound (US). The results of the study were measured before and after the use of US contrast agents and were compared with the ones obtained from the histological study of the pieces.


RESULTS
Malignant breast tumours showed, when using US Doppler with contrast agent, a hypervascularity pattern in 78.1% of the cases. The predominant pattern in benign tumours was avascular (11 cases, 64.7%). The intensity of the signal in the first minute was intense in 43.7% or moderate in 40.6% of the cases with malignant tumours versus the benign tumours where no signal was registered in 64.7% of the cases. A marked increase in the sensitivity and the predictive negative value of the ultrasound signal was noted with the use of potentiating substances.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of contrast agents in colour Doppler US studies improve the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions.
Martínez
A M
AM
The Breast Pathology Unit of the University Hospital of the Canaries, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal University Hospital of the Canaries, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Medina
C J
CJ
Bustos
C
C
Hernández
J A G
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media