Value of color Doppler ultrasonography in differential diagnosis of mammary ductal ectasia and breast cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the value of color Doppler ultrasonography in mammary ductal ectasia(MDE). Methods Preoperative sonograms of 54 MDE, 135 invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC) and 68 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients were retrospectively analyzed and further confirmed by histopathology. Results MDE showed 88.9% (48/54)mass type and 11.1% (6/54) ductal type.The average age of patients in MDE was younger than that in IDC(P<0.05). The number of MDE located around the areola was more than that of IDC(P<0.05). Mean maximum diameter of MDE was smaller than that of DCIS (P<0.05). Compared to DCIS and IDC, MDE in mass type showed higher detection rate of liquidity area and mammary ductal ectasia(all P<0.05), while lower detection rate of hyperecho, peripheral hyperechoic zone, posterior echo attenuation or blood flow richness(all P<0.001). Compared to IDC, MDE in mass type showed higher detection rate of inside ductal echolocation, while showed lower detection rate of irregular shape, spiculate margin or axillary lymph node enlargement. Compared to DCIS, MDE showed higher detection rate of large aspect ratios(≥0.7). Less MDE in ductal type with hyperecho were found than DCIS in ductal type(P<0.001). The coincidence rate of ultrasonic diagnosis and postoperative histopathhology results in 54 MDE patientis was 13.0%(7/54). Conclusions The sonographic findings of MDE has diverse manifestations. It shows important value of ultrasonography for MDE in its diagnosis and differential diagnosis with breast cancer. Key words: Ultrasonography; Mammary ductal ectasia; Breast neoplasms; Diagnosis, differential