Power Doppler sonography of breast masses: Correlation of Doppler spectralparameters with tumor angiogenesis and histologic growth pattern

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spectral analysis on power Doppler sonography and microvessel density. Power Doppler sonography was performed in 71 patients with breast masses (36 invasive ca rcinomas and 35 benign lesions). Microvessel density was measured in surgic al specimens from all breast carcinomas using anti-factor VIII-related anti body. Invasive carcinomas were divided into two groups according to their g rowth pattern (solid type, scirrhous type). The pulsatility index and resis tive index were high in malignant tumors compared with those in benign lesi ons (P < 0.001). The maxi mum velocity had weak statistical significance (P < 0.05). Although the correlation of maximum velocity with microvessel den sity was strong in solid tumors (P < 0.001), the maximum intensity in scirr hous tumors had no correlation with microvessel density. In conclusion, sol id tumors showed a tendency toward correlation of maximum velocity wi micro vessel density. High maximum velocity with high microvessel density suggest s breast carcinoma and could be predictive of a poor prognosis in invasive breast carcinoma.