title: An Innovative Ultrasound Technique for Evaluation of Tumor Vascularity in Breast Cancers: Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging.
abstract: Tumor vascularity is an important indicator for differential diagnosis, tumor growth, and prognosis. Superb micro-vascular imaging (SMI) is an innovative ultrasound technique for vascular examination that uses a multidimensional filter to eliminate clutter and preserve extremely low-velocity flows. Theoretically, SMI could depict more vessels and more detailed vascular morphology, due to the increased sensitivity of slow blood flow. Here, we report the early experience of using SMI in 21 breast cancer patients. We evaluated tumor vascular features in breast cancer and compared SMI and conventional color or power Doppler imaging. SMI was superior to color or power Doppler imaging in detecting tumor vessels, the details of vessel morphology, and both peripheral and central vascular distribution. In conclusion, SMI is a promising ultrasound technique for evaluating microvascular information of breast cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ah Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Kyoung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Keu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yeom
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Wha
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwan Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chung
keywords: Breast neoplasms; Doppler imaging; Ultrasonography