A simple method for relative assessment of the sound propagation velocity in breast tumors: technique and diagnostic efficacy.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate a method for assessing the sound propagation velocity in breast tumors relative to the velocity in adjacent tissue. Sixty-six patients with palpable breast tumors were studied. The scanning plane was aligned so that it transected the tumor and depicted the front of a rib or the pleura-lung interface behind the tumor. This contour was evaluated for distortion, and the height of the distortion and the height of the tumor were used to calculate the relative sound propagation velocity. A posterior reference line was revealed behind 62 of 66 tumors. Of these 62 tumors, an elevation was seen behind 49 tumors, and no distortion was seen behind 13 tumors. A depression was never observed. The median relative sound propagation velocity of 1.07 that was calculated in 42 carcinomas (range, 1.00-1.14) was insignificantly higher (p = .079) than the median relative sound propagation velocity of 1.04 obtained in 20 fibroadenomas (range, 1.00-1.15). Although assessment of relative sound propagation velocity in breast tumors was successful, the relative velocities differed only insignificantly between benign and malignant lesions.