Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of breast tumors: an initial experience

BACKGROUND: The increase of neoadjuvant treatment for breast cancer creates a capacity challenge as response evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a limited resource. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been proposed as an alternative imaging strategy. PURPOSE: To get experience with examination of malignant breast tumors with CEUS and evaluate the potential for future use in response evaluation of neoadjuvant treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this pilot study, the dynamic contrast-enhancement of ultrasound and MRI examinations were analyzed in 14 women with histologically verified breast cancer. RESULTS: Analysis of the time intensity curve of CEUS demonstrated the difference between tumor and normal tissue. The peak intensity was five times higher in tumor tissue (mean increase 397%, 95% CI 250–545). The curve was steeper for tumor tissue (mean 1.76, 95% CI 1.26–2.26) than for normal tissue (mean 0.43, 95% CI 0.24–0.62). CONCLUSION: CEUS is a feasible method of examining blood flow in malignant breast tumors.