Ju. Blohmer et al., PREOPERATIVE PROGNOSIS PREDICTION OF BREA ST-CANCER USING COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY, Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 58(1), 1998, pp. 6-12
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.