Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound in Breast Cancer

Vraka et al published in vivo their research regarding the correlation of findings between contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and pathological and prognostic factors in breast cancer. 

They retrospectively analyzed 34 breast cancers on which CEUS studies were performed and they looked at qualitative findings and quantitative characteristics.

They found that indistinct tumor margins were characteristic of high-grade malignancy and also in estrogen negative tumors.  They also found that perilesional enhancement was seen in tumors positive for Ki-67 expression.  Finally, heterogeneous sentinel lymph node enhancement was associated with metastatic infiltration.

Although the authors suggested their study cohort was rather small, their findings correlated well with histopathological and prognostic factors used in the initial diagnosis and therapy of patients with breast cancer, the most common cancer in women. 

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Effective in the Differential Diagnosis of Breast Lesions

Research by Ma et al published in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine suggests that contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) may be an effective method for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions, offering improvements in diagnostic accuracy over conventional breast ultrasound.

Their study was based on a meta-analysis of 29 studies and included 2,296 patients.

The investigators found that contrast-enhanced ultrasound offered a combined sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 80% and the pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 30.35

The authors concluded that CEUS could be an effective method for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions.  Its efficacy could also improve with the advent of second-generation contrast agents.