[Analysis of vascularity in XXXX --comparison of high frequency ultrasound and contrast-enhanced color harmonic imaging].

@entity1 @entity939 @entity0 @entity5
PURPOSE: To compare the ability of standard power Doppler and color harmonic imaging for visualising @entity0 vascularity using ultrasound probes of various frequencies, and to evaluate the influence on diagnostic accuracy using ultrasound contrast agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty @entity1 (x = 43.6 +/- 11.7 years) with suspected malignancy of the breast underwent power Doppler to evaluate vascularity and to offer a differential diagnosis of the lesion. Two criteria were used for differential diagnosis: The quantitative extent of vascularity ("percentage vessel area", @entity939 ) and the qualitative assessment of vascular architecture. The following power Doppler modes were compared in every @entity1 : Plain and enhanced (Levovist(R)) 9 MHz and 12 MHz standard power mode and enhanced 9 MHz color harmonic imaging-(CHI). RESULTS: The @entity939 increased from a mean of 2.2 +/- 2.9 % (9 MHz standard plain) via 4.8 +/- 4.1 % (12 MHz standard plain), 9.7 +/- 15.3 % (9 MHz standard enhanced), 17.4 +/- 20.0 % (9 MHz CHI enhanced) up to 19.4 +/- 14.8 % (12 MHz standard enhanced). The perceptibility of the vascular structure was best using the enhanced 12 MHz standard power mode, immediately followed by the enhanced 9 MHz CHI mode. The improved detection of vascular signal did not translate into improved diagnostic accuracy. The highest diagnostic accuracy (95 %) was obtained using the enhanced 9 MHz CHI mode (criterion " @entity939 ") and the enhanced 9 MHz standard power mode (criterion "vascular structure"), whereas the 12 MHz probes delivered insufficient diagnostic accuracy and very low specificity. CONCLUSION: Best quantitative and qualitative visualisation of the @entity5 vascularity was achieved using the enhanced 12 MHz standard power mode. Nevertheless, the highest diagnostic accuracy was obtained using enhanced 9 MHz standard power Doppler and enhanced 9 MHz color harmonic imaging. The visualisation of @entity5 vascularity and, partially, the diagnostic accuracy are improved significantly by color harmonic imaging without changing the probe frequently.
