Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 11, Issue 8 377-385, Copyright © 1992 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Enhanced color flow imaging of breast cancer vasculature: continuous wave Doppler and three-dimensional display
P. L. Carson, D. D. Adler, J. B. Fowlkes, K. Harnist and J. Rubin
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0553.
Two methods of potentially improving the detection and assessment of breast
cancer vasculature by color flow Doppler ultrasonography were studied. Use
of continuous wave (CW) Doppler imaging was one method evaluated by a
comparison of system sensitivity to small vessel flow by continuous wave
and pulsed Doppler methods. The second technique demonstrated color flow
image acquisition and three-dimensional (3D) display. Six breast cancer
patients were examined with both a color flow pulsed system and a CW
Doppler system employing a hand-held transmitter-receiver pair with
crossed-beam patterns. The CW unit consistently revealed more regions of
tumor flow and multidirectional flow. Good 3D displays were achieved on
larger pulsatile vessels, from images obtained during systole and selected
for minimal noise.
