J Breast Cancer.  2016 Jun;19(2):210-213. 10.4048/jbc.2016.19.2.210.

An Innovative Ultrasound Technique for Evaluation of Tumor Vascularity in Breast Cancers: Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging

• Park AY
• Seo BK
• Cha SH
• Yeom SK
• Lee SW
• Chung HH

• KMID: 2308974
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2016.19.2.210

Abstract

Tumor vascularity is an important indicator for differential diagnosis, tumor growth, and prognosis. Superb micro-vascular imaging (SMI) is an innovative ultrasound technique for vascular examination that uses a multidimensional filter to eliminate clutter and preserve extremely low-velocity flows. Theoretically, SMI could depict more vessels and more detailed vascular morphology, due to the increased sensitivity of slow blood flow. Here, we report the early experience of using SMI in 21 breast cancer patients. We evaluated tumor vascular features in breast cancer and compared SMI and conventional color or power Doppler imaging. SMI was superior to color or power Doppler imaging in detecting tumor vessels, the details of vessel morphology, and both peripheral and central vascular distribution. In conclusion, SMI is a promising ultrasound technique for evaluating microvascular information of breast cancers.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Doppler imaging; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms
Breast*
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Prognosis
Ultrasonography*

Figure

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  Figure 1 A 47-year-old female with invasive ductal carcinoma (patient number 21). A gray-scale ultrasound image (A) shows a 10-mm irregular indistinct hypoechoic masse (arrows), assessed as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 4c. Color Doppler (B) and power Doppler (C) images show a few peripheral dot-like vessels. Color superb micro-vascular imaging (SMI) (D) and monochrome SMI (E) images demonstrate conversing vessels at anterior periphery of the mass with penetrating and branching appearance.

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  Figure 2 A 49-year-old female with ductal carcinoma in situ (patient number 1). A gray-scale ultrasound image (A) shows a 9-mm irregular indistinct hypoechoic mass, assessed as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 4b. A color Doppler image (B) shows no vessel within the mass. Color superb micro-vascular imaging (C) shows more than 10, penetrating vessels with both central and peripheral distribution.

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