Significance of microvascular evaluation of ductal lesions on breast ultrasonography: Influence on diagnostic performance

Clin Imaging. 2018 Sep-Oct:51:252-259. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.05.024. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

Abstract

We aim to investigate the significance of microvascular ultrasonography in breast ductal lesions for distinguishing benign from malignant lesions. Sixty-two ductal lesions were evaluated with gray-scale and three Doppler techniques before biopsy, Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI), color Doppler (CDI), and power Doppler imaging (PDI). We evaluated number, distribution, and morphology of vessels. The area under the ROC curve of combined use of Doppler imaging was greater than that of gray-scale only and SMI had higher value than CDI and PDI (p < 0.05). Microvascular ultrasonography improves diagnostic performance that distinguishes benign from malignant breast ductal lesions, and SMI is superior to CDI and PDI.

Keywords: Breast; Breast duct; Microvascular imaging; Superb Microvascular Imaging; Ultrasonography.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Area Under Curve
  • Biopsy
  • Breast / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Microvessels / diagnostic imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • ROC Curve
  • Ultrasonography / methods
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler / methods
  • Ultrasonography, Mammary / methods