shu-508 and Fibrocystic-Breast-Disease

Findings in previous investigations have indicated that contrast-enhanced colour Doppler can be used to improve the demonstration of characteristic features of neovascularization in malignancies. However, the quantification of the increase in colour Doppler signals after Levovist in the cited study relied only on descriptive criteria defined by the investigator, resulting in a subjective scoring system. A computer-assisted method for quantitative analysis of colour pixel density is a novel approach for objective assessment of colour Doppler signal after contrast media administration. After microbubble contrast medium injection in 47 patients, carcinomas and benign lesions behaved differently regarding degree, onset and duration of Doppler enhancement. However, the high interindividual variability and the temporal variations of the Doppler signal still limit the value of these criteria for prospective diagnosis. Rapid image-acquisition techniques are needed in order to apply the necessary mathematical processing before the contrast kinetics can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Flow Velocity; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Carcinoma, Lobular; Contrast Media; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; Female; Fibroadenoma; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Polysaccharides; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; Ultrasonography, Mammary

To evaluate objectively the effects of a microbubble contrast agent on the color Doppler ultrasound (US) examination of breast lesions.. Forty-seven patients aged 23-71 years underwent color Doppler US before and after intravenous injection of a microbubble contrast agent. A 3-minute computer-assisted assessment of the color pixel density (CPD) was used to evaluate objectively the increase in the number of color Doppler US signals, the transit time of the microbubble bolus, and the potential additional differential diagnostic information.. Peak CPD at contrast agent-enhanced color Doppler US was 14.3% +/- 8.1 (mean +/- 1 standard deviation) for carcinomas and 9.3% +/- 4.9 for benign lesions (P = .04). The time to peak enhancement was shorter in carcinomas (38 seconds +/- 20) than in benign tumors (71 seconds +/- 48, P = .02). Final CPD was close or equal to baseline values. With the median of 13% for peak CPD as a threshold, the sensitivity for this parameter was 55%, the specificity was 79%, and the accuracy was 62% (P = .04). For a median time to peak of 50 seconds, the sensitivity was 84%, the specificity was 57%, and the accuracy was 76%.. After microbubble contrast agent injection, carcinomas and benign lesions behave differently in degree, onset, and duration of Doppler US enhancement. High interindividual variability and temporal variations in the Doppler US signal still limit the value of these criteria for prospective diagnosis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Flow Velocity; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Carcinoma, Lobular; Contrast Media; Female; Fibroadenoma; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Middle Aged; Polysaccharides; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color