Angiosonography in suspicious breast lesions with non-diagnostic FNAC: comparison with power Doppler US.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of angiosonography in comparison with colour Doppler ultrasound (US) in the discrimination of suspicious breast lesions with nondiagnostic fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).


METHODS
Pre-operative Power Doppler US and angiosonography were prospectively performed in 20 suspicious breast lesions with non-diagnostic FNAC. A second-generation US contrast agent was utilised with a high-frequency transducer and a contrast-specific algorithm (low acoustic pressure CnTI). The enhancement characteristics of all lesions were analysed using qualitative and quantitative parameters obtained from time-intensity curves with the different imaging modalities. The final diagnosis was confirmed at pathology in all cases. Microvessel density (MVD) was assessed in the surgical specimen using CD34.


RESULTS
The correct assessment of biological behaviour was achieved in all cases by angiosonography (sensitivity of 100%; specificity of 91%) and colour Doppler US (45% sensitivity; 78% specificity). MVD correlated with the biological behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
Angiosonography is more accurate than colour Doppler US in the correct assessment of biological behaviour of suspicious breast lesions.
Caumo
F
F
Sezione di Radiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico G.B. Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro 10,1-37134 Verona, Italy. francesca.caumo@azosp.vr.it
Carbognin
G
G
Casarin
A
A
Pinali
L
L
Vasori
S
S
D'Onofrio
M
M
Pozzi Mucelli
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
D003287:Contrast Media