ROLE OF COLOUR DOPPLER IMAGING IN DIFFERENTIATING BENIGN AND MALIGNANT BREAST MASSES”: A ONE YEAR PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women. It accounts for almost 23% of all cancer cases and 14% of cancer deaths globally.2 It is also the root cause of cancer deaths among women. Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer will greatly improve the survival rates in women. Mammography acts as a good primary screening tool but it is less sensitive while detecting lesions in dense breasts as in young women. Hence, ultrasonography has emerged as a good tool for identifying breast masses in young women, pregnant and lactating mothers. USG of the breast can also be indicated when the mammography results are inconclusive. Breast tumour growth mandates the formation of abnormal new blood vessels within and around the tumour by a process known as angiogenesis. Colour Doppler ultrasonography will be helpful in detecting the characteristic flow in these abnormal blood vessels and thus helpful to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses.