title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound characteristics of breast cancer: correlation with prognostic factors.
abstract: The purpose of the work described here was to investigate the correlation of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) characteristics with prognostic factors in breast cancer. Forty-five consecutive breast cancer patients were studied with CEUS. All patients were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma on the basis of biopsy or surgery results. Lack of blood perfusion of the tumor was identified in 2 cases; blood perfusion was observed in 43 cases. Enhancement was heterogeneous in 25 cases, and centripetal in 25 cases. A blood perfusion defect was present in 27 cases. Enhancement shape was irregular in 37 cases, margins were poorly defined in 34 cases, and penetrating vessels were present in 32 cases. Compared with the surrounding normal tissue, tumor tissue had faster rising times and times to peak and higher peak intensities and wash-in slopes; the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Compared with the interior of the tumor, the periphery had faster times to peak and higher peak intensities and wash-in slopes (p < 0.05). Heterogeneous enhancement, perfusion defect, centripetal enhancement and penetrating vessels were correlated with prognosis (p < 0.05). Overall, some CEUS characteristics of breast cancer were associated with prognostic factors that can predict breast cancer prognosis in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: cxl969@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Shi-Guang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Li-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Men
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
keywords: Breast cancer; Contrast agent; Prognostic factor; Ultrasonography