Comparison of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonographic findings with histologic features of benign and malignant mammary tumors in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To compare and correlate B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonographic characteristics with the histologic findings of benign and malignant mammary tumors in dogs.


METHODS
49 mammary tumors in 26 dogs.


METHODS
Before excision, tumors were evaluated via B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography to assess size, echogenicity, echopattern, acoustic transmission, invasiveness, and vascularity. Paraffin-embedded microsections of the tumors were stained with H&E and examined for presence of necrosis, cysts, cartilage, bone, mineralization, invasion of surrounding tissue, and tissue heterogeneity. To assess vascularity, the number and distribution of vessels that were stained by the Verhoeff van Gieson technique were recorded.


RESULTS
Tumor echogenicity and echopattern on ultrasonographic images correlated with tissue heterogeneity detected histologically. Acoustic enhancement was correlated with the presence of necrotic or cystic areas. Tumor invasion into surrounding tissues as determined ultrasonographically did not correlate with the histologic findings. There was a significant correlation between the number of detected vessels and distribution of flow within the tumors determined via ultrasonographic and histologic examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
In canine mammary tumors, ultrasonographic characteristics appear to be correlated with histopathologic changes. Data suggest that ultrasonography may have an important role in the evaluation of mammary tumors in dogs, particularly in the evaluation of tissue composition and tumor vascularity.
Nyman
Helena T
HT
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Nielsen
Ole L
OL
McEvoy
Fintan J
FJ
Lee
Marcel H
MH
Martinussen
Torben
T
Hellmén
Eva
E
Kristensen
Annemarie T
AT
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography