Three-dimensional Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in Response Assessment for Breast Cancer: A Comparison with Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Pathology.

To compare the capabilities of three-dimensional contrast enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DCE-MRI) in predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among breast cancer patients, 48 patients with unilateral breast cancer were recruited for 3D-CEUS and DCE-MRI examinations both before and after NAC; pathology was used to validate the results. This study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. Imaging feature changes and pathological vascularity response, including microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were calculated. Pathological complete response (pCR) and major histological response (MHR) were used as references. The 3D-CEUS score, DCE-MRI score, MVD and VEGF significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) after NAC. The correlations between Δ3D-CEUS and ΔDCE-MRI with pCR (r = 0.649, P < 0.0001; r = 0.639, P < 0.0001) and MHR (r = 0.863, P < 0.0001; r = 0.836, P < 0.0001) were significant. All scores showed significant differences between the pCR and non-pCR groups with folder changes of 0.1, 0.1, 2.4, and 2.3, respectively (P = 0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001 and <0.0001). In conclusion, 3D-CEUS is effective in assessing the response of breast cancer patients undergoing NAC.

Three-dimensional contrast enhanced ultrasound score and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging score in evaluating breast tumor angiogenesis: correlation with biological factors.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical value of three-dimensional contrast enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) score systems in evaluating breast tumor angiogenesis by comparing their diagnostic efficacy and correlation with biological factors. METHODS: 3D-CEUS was performed in 183 patients with breast tumors by Esaote Mylab90 with SonoVue (Bracco, Italy), DCE-MRI was performed on a dedicated breast magnetic resonance imaging (DBMRI) system (Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI Systems, USA) with a dedicated breast coil. 3D-CEUS and DCE-MRI score systems were created based on tumor perfusion and vascular characteristics. Microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9) expression were measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Pathological results showed 35 benign and 148 malignant breast tumors. MVD (P=0.000, r=0.76), VEGF (P=0.000, r=0.55), MMP-2 (P=0.000, r=0.39) and MMP-9 (P=0.000, r=0.41) expression were all significantly different between benignity and malignancy. Regarding 3D-CEUS 4 points as cutoff value, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.1%, 94.3% and 86.9%, respectively, and correlated well with MVD (P=0.000, r=0.50), VEGF (P=0.000, r=0.50), MMP-2 (P=0.000, r=0.50) and MMP-9 (P=0.000, r=0.66). Taking DCE-MRI 5 points as cutoff value, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 86.5%, 94.3% and 88.0%, respectively and also correlated well with MVD (P=0.000, r=0.52), VEGF (P=0.000, r=0.44), MMP-2 (P=0.000, r=0.42) and MMP-9 (P=0.000, r=0.35). CONCLUSIONS: 3D-CEUS score system displays inspiring diagnostic performance and good agreement with DCE-MRI scoring. Moreover, both score systems correlate well with MVD, VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, and thus have great potentials in tumor angiogenesis evaluation.

Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced sonography in the assessment of breast tumor angiogenesis: correlation with microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor expression.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to differentiate perfusion and vascular characteristics between benign and malignant breast lesions by 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced sonography and evaluate their correlation with microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression for further clinical exploration. METHODS: Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced sonography was performed in 183 patients with breast lesions, and sonographic characteristics were carefully observed for further analysis. The mean microvessel density and VEGF expression were measured by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Pathologic results showed 35 benign and 148 malignant cases. Malignancy and benignity differed significantly in peripheral vessel characteristics (number, distribution, course, degree of dilatation, and penetrating vessels), rim perfusion and coarseness degree, intratumoral perfusion type, and intratumoral vessel dilatation (P< .05) but not the presence of peripheral and intratumoral vessels and intratumoral perfusion (P > .05). The specificity of penetrating vessels was 88.6% for diagnosing malignancy. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of rim perfusion coarseness were 90.2%, 70.4%, and 85.3% respectively. The sensitivity of the intratumoral perfusion type was 77.8%, whereas the specificity of intratumoral vessel dilatation was 88.9%. Microvessel density and VEGF expression were significantly correlated with perfusion and vascular characteristics (P < .05), except the presence of peripheral vessels, rim perfusion, and intratumoral perfusion (P> .05). The presence of intratumoral vessels was related to VEGF (P< .05) but not microvessel density (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced sonographic characteristics were statistically different between benign and malignant breast lesions. Some of them also correlated significantly with microvessel density and VEGF expression and therefore have potential for objective evaluation of tumor angiogenesis.