The use of color-coded Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

87 women with mammographically suspicious breast lesions were investigated prior to surgery. Color Doppler signals were obtained in 80 patients. 32 breast carcinomas and 55 benign lesions were evaluated for the RI (resistance index), the PI (pulsatility index), the flow velocity and the Al (acceleration index). Our study showed the RI > 0.7 an optimal threshold value to differentiate benign from malignant tumors. In this series, the sensitivity of duplex Doppler ultrasound for the detection of breast carcinoma was 84%, and the specificity 80%. The positive predictive value was 71%, the negative predictive value 90% and the accuracy 82%. Color Doppler scanning is a possible method for further investigation of patients with mammographic abnormalities and can be useful to reduce the number of unnecessary breast biopsies.