Abstract
Objectives: To establish the usefulness of Resistive Index and vascularity patterns using Color Doppler Ultrasound (CDUS) in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions and to correlate the imaging findings with pathologic results.
Results: Significantly increased values of RI > 0.73, Peak systolic velocity >25cm/sec along with the presence of more penetrating vessels which are radially arranged and show chaotic vascularity are characteristic features of malignant breast lesion. When RI is around 0.66- 0.73, Peak systolic velocity <25cm/sec along with the vascularity along the tumor margins in a peripheral net pattern, they are usually features of benign lesions. In this way we can differentiate benign from malignant breast pathologies and also categorise indeterminate lesions into either of them.
Conclusion: Color Doppler sonography is an ideal imaging technique that can be used in conjunction with basic imaging modalities such as mammography and grey scale imaging ultrasonography, as a non invasive method for confirmatory diagnosis of breast lesions. Some of the variables have been statistically analysed to establish its unique role in better evaluation of breast cancers. It’s based on the fact that most malignant lesions show more neovascularisation than benign lesions when compared to the normal breast parenchyma.
Keywords: Color Doppler sonography, Resistive Index (RI), Peak systolic velocity (PSV).
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Corresponding Author
Dr Pearly Stephen
Post Graduate Student, Department of Radiodiagnosis, RMMCH, Annamalai University, Chidambaram - 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i10.164
