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Color Doppler imaging of fibroadenomas of the breast with histopathologic correlation
Author(s) -
Strano Selwyn,
Gombos Eva C.,
Friedland Orith,
Mozes Marta
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.20041
Subject(s) - breast fibroadenoma , vascularity , fibroadenoma , medicine , color doppler , pathology , radiology , anatomy , breast cancer , ultrasonography , cancer
Purpose This study was conducted to characterize the spatial distribution of blood vessels in breast fibroadenomas. Methods We performed a prospective study to map the anatomic distribution of the vessels in 29 fibroadenomas of the breast using color Doppler sonography. We categorized the detected vessels according to their location in or on the fibroadenoma, counted the different types of vessels, and tested for correlations between vessel distributions or numbers and histopathologic findings. Results Blood flow was demonstrated in 24/29 (83%) of fibroadenomas. We found 3 vessel types: feeding vessels, which are prominent vessels leading from the surrounding breast tissue into the fibroadenoma; capsular vessels, which are located within the tissue capsule; and segmental vessels, which are located within the fibrous septa of the fibroadenoma. Capsular and segmental vessels were demonstrated in 23/24 (96%) and 24/24 (100%) of the cases, respectively. Feeding vessels were seen in 12/24 (50%) of the cases. Histopathologic analysis revealed the same location and distribution of the vessels as color Doppler imaging. However, there was no correlation between numbers of vessels counted on sonograms and on histopathologic specimens. Conclusions Examination of the vascularity demonstrated on color Doppler imaging helps in the diagnosis of benign breast neoplasms such as fibroadenomas. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 32:317–322, 2004