BLOOD-FLOW DIAGNOSIS IN MALIGNANT BREAST- TUMORS - A NEW PROGNOSTIC FACTOR

Objective: The aim of the present study was to find a possible relatio nship between biological behavior of breast cancer and sonographically detectable blood flow. Methods: 157 patients with ductal invasive bre ast cancer were examined by means of a new sonographic procedure, the MEM (Maximum Entropy Method), able to detect considerably lower blood flow velocities than doppler sonography. In the absence of objectifyab le quantification methods, findings were allotted to 3 classes, depend ing on the visual color information obtained. Blood flow was correlate d to tumor size, lymph node and receptor status, ploidy and S-phase-fr action. Results: Most patients with small tumors, no lymph node metata ses, positive receptors, diploid genome and low S-phase found to have low blood flow. Conclusion: This close relation between established pr ognostic factors and results of sonosgraphic blood flow examination wi th the MEM might indicate a new preoperative prognostic factor, which, however, will have to be proven by larger studies.