Potential application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating the response of breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The study included 31 breast cancer patients who were treated with NAC between August 2010 and October 2011. All patients were evaluated by both conventional ultrasound (US) and CEUS. The tumor sizes measured by CEUS were larger and more accurately imaged than those evaluated by US. Necrosis at the tumor center could be detected by CEUS, which showed a local blood perfusion defect in 26 cases (83.9%) before NAC and 27 cases (87.1%) after NAC, whereas US did not show liquefaction in any patient. The CEUS time-intensity curve displayed quantitatively the tumors' blood-perfusion changes; after NAC, blood perfusion reduced, enhancement intensity decreased, time to peak increased, peak intensity reduced, and the wash-in slope reduced (p < 0.05). Overall, the CEUS is a promising tool for evaluating the response of breast cancer to NAC.
Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, and Department of Ultrasound, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China. cxl969@sina.com
Xiaoli
X
Cao
Jie
J
Xue
Bin
B
Zhao
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D003287:Contrast Media; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary
D003287:Contrast Media; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin