Ranking of colour coded duplex sonography in the staging of breast tumours.

Purpose of the study was to detect vessels indirectly in conspicuous focal findings of the breast by means of measurement of blood flow by using colour-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) and to examine whether additional criteria can be defined to determine the pathological relevance of breast tumours. Materials and methods: In a prospective study 149 patients were investigated, in whom either palpable breast lesions had been noticed or focal findings in imaging diagnostics. The perfusion in the focus and its surroundings (if present) was demonstrated and documented by means of CCDS. The investigation results were compared and contrasted with the histological findings after the operation. Results: Indirect detection of the vessels depended on the size of the malignant tumours and was successful in 41.7% of cases with a tumour diameter of less than or equal to 1 cm, in 90% of cases with a diameter of 1-2 cm and in 100% of cases with a diameter of >2 cm. Carcinoma and metastases could be detected with a sensitivity of 87.5% and overall specificity of 56.9%. No typical perfusion pattern allowing appraisal of the pathologic relevance was seen. Postoperative scars did not show perfusion in any case. Conclusions: CCDS is of limited suitability only for determining the relevance of breast tumours, but provides additional diagnostic information especially on T-1 tumours having a diameter between 1 and 2 cm. According to our results obtained so far, CCDS appears to be reliable and informative in differential diagnosis of tumour recurrence and an older scar.