Evaluation of breast lesions with contrast-enhanced ultrasound using the microvascular imaging technique: Initial observations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound using the microvascular imaging technique in the diagnosis of breast lesions. In 104 patients with 104 breast lesions scheduled for surgery, conventional and contrast-enhanced ultrasound using the microvascular imaging technique were performed after administration of SonoVue®. The enhancement patterns of breast lesions were classified as no enhancement, peripheral enhancement, homogeneous enhancement, regional enhancement, or heterogeneous enhancement based on the morphologic features of enhancement. The diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound using the microvascular imaging technique was analyzed with the observers blinded to the clinical data and pathology (which served as the gold standard). None of the enhancement patterns was suggestive of benignity, with a sensitivity of 18.3%, specificity of 97.7%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 91.7%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 46.2%, and accuracy of 51.5%. The peripheral enhancement pattern was suggestive of malignancy, with a sensitivity of 39.5%, specificity of 98.3%, PPV of 94.4%, NPV of 69.4%, and accuracy of 73.8%. Homogeneous, regional, and heterogeneous enhancement patterns did not show meaningful diagnostic information. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound using the microvascular imaging technique provides diagnostic information on breast lesions.