COLOR-CODED DOPPLER ASSESSMENT OF RECURRE NT BREAST-CANCER

Local lesions occurring after conservative surgery for breast neoplasm s require diagnostic means capable of detecting and assessing the recu rrence of such cancers. In the present color-coded Doppler was used in 20 women who had under gone conservative surgery (mean 4 years before ) to screen all suspect lesions. Among the 14 malignant lesions assess ed histologically, one or more arterial vessels were detected inside o r beside the lesion in 13. Among the 6 benign lesions, only of one art erial vessel was detected, in all cases far from the lesion (12.5 to 3 .3 mm). No significant difference was observed for systolic velocities and resistance index. These results indicate high accuracy of color c oded Doppler examination associated with echotomography and mammograph y for positive diagnosis of recurrent lesions in post-conservative fol low-up of breast cancer.