Vascularity in fibroadenomas: Comparison of contrast-harmonic imaging and contrast-enhanced power Doppler

Purpose: To compare contrast material-enhanced harmonic power Doppler ultra sonography (CHI) with conventional contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasou nd (CPD) in depicting the vascularity of fibroadenomas. Materials and Metho ds: Forty patients with fibroadenomas (aged 19-61 years) underwent conventi onal contrast-enhanced and harmonic power Doppler US. According to a standa rdized examination protocol, serial dynamic scans were obtained before and at 30, 90 and 150 seconds after injection of contrast agent. Video-taped sc ans were independently reviewed by three blinded readers with regard to par ameter artifacts, degree of Doppler signal enhancement, demarcation of vess els and extent of vessel visualization. Results: The number of intratumoral power Doppler signals depicted was similar with both techniques at 30-90 s econds after contrast administration; however, after 90 seconds, CPD depict ed significantly more intratumoral signals than did CHI (p<0.0001). CHI was superior to CPD with regard to "blooming" or motion-related artifacts (p<0 .0001). Conclusion: CHI balances the increased susceptibility of CPD to int erference from clutter artifacts and thus allows the depiction of vessels t hat may have been obscured on CPD at similar system settings.