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.