PREOPERATIVE PROGNOSIS PREDICTION OF BREA ST-CANCER USING COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY

Introduction: Will colour Doppler sonography permit preoperative predi ction of prognosis in breast cancer patients? Material and methods: 99 breast cancer patients were preoperatively examined by high resolutio n ultrasound equipment of high Doppler frequencies (6 MHz) (UM 9 HDI a nd HDI 3000, ATL, Bother WA, USA). Parameters of Doppler flow velocity wave form like maximum systolic velocity, minimal enddiastolic veloci ty and resistance index were analysed, Semiquantitative parameters for the assessment of arrangement and density of colour pixels (number, p ixel classes) in the sonographic findings were also examined with rega rd to their relation to established parameters of prognosis (TNM, horm one receptors). Results: Female patients with lymph node metastasis sh owed significantly more than one pulsating area in the tumour area (78 %, p = 0.027) and the pixel class II and III (95%, p = 0.008) than tho se without affected lymph nodes. The median maximum systolic velocity and the median minimum enddiastolic velocity depictable by means of co lour Doppler were significantly (p = 0.003 and p = 0.012) higher in mi nor differentiated breast cancer (35.5 cm/s and 8.6 cm/s) than in well differentiated ones (14.7 cm/s and 4.0 cm/s). There were no more sign ificant differences in other Doppler parameters concerning established factors of prognosis. Conclusion: The assessment of colour Doppler so nography seems to allow preoperative statements with regard to the TNM stage, especially to a possible metastatic invasion of lymph nodes an d tumour grading.