Comparison of various imaging methods with particular evaluation of Color Doppler sonography for planning surgery for breast tumors

Objective: Color Doppler sonography (CD) was compared with other diagnostic imaging methods [mammography (MG), breast ultrasound (US) and magnetic res onance imaging (MRI)] in the planning of surgery for breast tumors. Materia ls and methods: 99 patients with breast cancer and 101 with ultimately beni gn breast lesions were examined preoperatively. The specificity and sensiti vity were calculated, as well as the predictive values. Various qualitative and semiquantitative CD parameters were also analysed for their diagnostic value. Results: The sensitivity/specificity of the various methods (in %) was: MG 85/77; US 95/80; CD 82/75, MRI 90/63. The positive predictive value (ppv)/negative predictive value (npv) (in %) was: MG 79/83; US 81/94; CD 7 2/84; MRI 79/63. The median maximum systolic flow velocity and the resistan ce index (RI) were significantly higher in breast cancer vessels than in be nign lesions. The number of pulsating color pixels detected by CD was signi ficantly higher for breast cancer. In cases of breast cancer significantly more blood flows were detected in the body of the tumor than at its periphe ry. Conclusion: Color Doppler sonography was not superior to other diagnost ic methods for preoperative assessment of a breast lesion. The combination of all diagnostic procedures gave a correct classification rate of 93.3% an d is much better than the correct classification of any single diagnostic i maging procedure.