Correlation of Contrast Enhanced Power Doppler Sonographic Findings with Histologic Microvessel Density in the Breast Mass.

Han,  Boo Kyung; Ko,  Young Hyeh; Choe,  Yeon Hyeon; Cho,  Kyoung Sik

Journal of Korean Society of Medical Ultrasound 2002;21(1): 55-64.

Boo Kyung Han, Young Hyeh Ko, Yeon Hyeon Choe, Kyoung Sik Cho

¹Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Korea.
²Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Korea.
³Department of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Korea.

Published online: March 1, 2002.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the pre-and postenhanced power Doppler sonographic (PDS) findings in malignant and be-nign breast masses and to correlate between power Doppler area (PDA) and histologic microvessel density (MVD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven women with breast masses (27 malignant and 20 benign) underwent PDS be-fore and after an injection of microbubble contrast agent (Levovist (r) ) for five minutes. Using computer-assisted quantification, intratumoral % PDA was calculated. Microvessel density was counted on the digitized image of slides stained with anti CD 31 monoclonal antibody. The statistical analysis was performed using t-test to determine the difference of % PDA between malignant and benign masses and between <2 cm and > or = 2 cm in size. The correlation between % PDA and MVD was investigated by Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: % PDA on preenhancement PDS did not show a statistically significant difference between malignant and benign breast masses (4.3% and 3.9%, p>0.3). On a 30-second post-enhancement PDS, the difference between malignant and benign masses in % PDA showed a statistical significance (28.3% and 11.0%, p<0.05), but the difference in size of masses was not statistically significant (p>0.05). MVD was well correlated with % PDA on post-enhancement PDS (r=0.69), and a stronger correlation was seen in malignant masses (r=0.71). CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced PDS is superior in demonstrating the difference of vascularity between malignant and benign breast masses. % PDA after contrast-enhancement exhibited a statistically significant correlation with histologic MVD.

Keywords: Breast Neoplasms; US Ultrasound (US); Doppler studies Angiogenesis