DOPPLER MEASUREMENT OF BREAST VASCULARITY IN WOMEN UNDER PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF BENIGN BREAST DISEASE

Breast vascularization was measured with an 8-MHz continuous wave Dopp ler pencil probe. Flow values were low in asymptomatic women and high in patients with severe pain or dysplastic changes. Mild treatment wit h a plant extract produced only a small decrease in breast vasculariza tion. Treatment with norethisterone acetate showed a dose-dependent de crease in blood flow. A good response was seen with a dosage of 5 mg/d , and a dramatic decrease was seen when 10 mg/d was taken. These resul ts showed a good correlation with the patients' symptoms.