COLOR DOPPLER ULTRASOUND AND SPECTRAL-ANALYSIS OF TUMOR VESSELS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF SOLID BREAST MASSES

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to evaluate th e usefulness of color Doppler and spectral analysis of specific tumor vessels in the differentiation of benign from malignant breast masses. METHODS. Forty-eight patients with solid breast masses were evaluated with color Doppler ultrasound prospectively, When tumor vessels were visualized, spectral analysis was performed and peak systolic and end diastolic Doppler frequency shifts were recorded, Histology was obtain ed in all but tyro cases. RESULTS. In 28 out of 29 malignant lesions t umor vessels were visualized. Thirteen of 19 benign lesions showed no demonstrable flow. The peak systolic Doppler frequency shifts recorded over the vessels of the malignant breast masses were significantly hi gher than those of the benign breast masses (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS. I n our preliminary series, spectral Doppler analysis of tumor vessels s hows promise in differentiating benign from malignant breast masses.