"Using 3D scans promises greater accuracy due to more consistent sampling over the entire tumour," said lead author Gerald L LeCarpentier, assistant professor in the department of radiology at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI). "Our study shows that 3D power Doppler ultrasound may be useful in the evaluation of some breast masses."
Malignant breast masses often exhibit increased blood flow compared to normal tissue or benign masses. Using 3D power Doppler ultrasound, the Ann Arbor team was able to detect vessels with higher flow speeds, which likely indicate cancer.
For the study, LeCarpentier and colleagues assessed 78 women between the ages of 26 and 70 who where scheduled for biopsy of a suspicious breast mass. Each of the women underwent a 3D Doppler ultrasound exam followed by core or excisional biopsy of the breast.
The results showed that 3D power Doppler ultrasound was highly accurate in identifying malignant breast tumours. When combined with age-based assessment and grey-scale visual analysis, 3D Doppler showed a sensitivity of 100% in identifying cancerous tumours and a specificity of 86% in excluding benign tumours.
"Using speed-weighted 3D power Doppler ultrasound, higher flow velocities in the malignant tumour-feeding vessels may be detected, whereas vessels with slower flow velocities in surrounding benign masses may be excluded," noted LeCarpentier.