Ultrasonic Diagnosis of Breast Tumors

De-Jun Hu （ Ultrasonic Department, People's Hospital of Deyang City, Mianzhu, Sichuan, 618000, China. ）

Abstract

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor caused by genetic mutations, which induced by various carcinogenic factors, in the epithelial cells of the terminal ductal lobule units of the breast. These mutations allow cancer cells to proliferate indefinitely, leading to a large, disordered accumulation of cancer cells that continuously infiltrate surrounding tissues. During the proliferation of malignant tumor cells, they release Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which stimulates the neovascularization within the tumor. These neovascularization are usually micro-vessels with diameters less than 200 micrometers. The formation of neonatal vessels plays a crucial role in the growth, infiltration, and metastasis of tumors and appears earlier than morphological changes in the tumor. Therefore, early detection of tumor neovascularization is an important basis for the early diagnosis of malignant tumors. Conventional imaging methods are primarily based on morphological changes in breast tumors. Although color Doppler ultrasound can observe the distribution, deformation, flow rate, and resistance index of larger vessels within the tumor lesion, it is less effective in displaying low-speed micro-vessels. To address this gap, Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) technology was developed. CEUS technology enhances the contrast between blood and tissue using a contrast agent, highlighting the blood perfusion pattern and clearly showing the distribution and path of vessels within the lesion. This is considered a significant revolution in the history of ultrasound, providing a powerful tool for the detection of neovascularization in tumors.

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