ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo study the correlation between contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features and Nottingham prognostic index (NPI) in patients with breast carcinoma. Methods The ultrasound features and microvascular imaging manifestation of 91 breast carcinomas confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.NPI was typically stratified into 3 major groups:NPI ＜ 3.4 ( n =19 ), NPI:3.4-5.4 ( n =52 ) and NPI ＞5.4(n =21 ). Results With the increase of NPI, the rate of heterogeneous enhancement, perfusion defects, edge enhancement higher than center enhancement, and unclear border increased.The difference among the 3 groups had statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in enhancement order among the 3 groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The lesions of the 3 groups were mainly “high enhancement” and there was no significant difference among the 3 groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).With the increase of NPI, the rate of early enhancement and late regression increased.The difference among the 3 groups had statistical significance ( P ＜ 0.05 ).With the increase of NPI, the rate of enlarged and twisted vessels as well as peripheral vessel burr increased.There was significant difference among the 3 groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionCEUS festures and microvescular architecture pattern of breast carcinoma are related to NPI, which is useful in predicating the prognosis of breast carcinoma.