PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate ultrasound velocity (SV) in carcinomas, fibrocystic changes, fibroadenomas and fatty tissue of the female breast by means of direct in-vitro measurements. We intended to test whether or not differences in SV exist between the various types of tissue and whether the SV is a useful criterion to differentiate the different tissues. METHOD: SV was measured by comparing transmission time of the ultrasound beam through the specimen and through water. Altogether 40 specimens (12 cancer, 14 fibrocystic changes = FCD, 10 fatty tissues, 3 fibroadenomas, and 1 mixed tissue) were analysed. RESULTS: Velocity differed significantly between fat (1478.5 +/- 6.5 m/s) and tumor (1523.1 +/- 5.9 m/s) (p approximately 10(-11)) and between fat and FCD (1526.0 +/- 9.0 m/s) (p approximately 10(-12)). No significant differences and much overlap were seen between the ultrasound velocities of tumors and FCD. Ultrasound velocity in fibroadenomas (1533.2 +/- 3.8 m/s) was comparable with that in carcinomas and FCD. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ultrasound velocity may add complementary information to echogenicity (B-scan). Thus, a locally exact correlation of echogenicity and sound velocity might allow for an improved tissue characterization.
PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate ultrasound velocity (SV) in carcinomas, fibrocystic changes, fibroadenomas and fatty tissue of the female breast by means of direct in-vitro measurements. We intended to test whether or not differences in SV exist between the various types of tissue and whether the SV is a useful criterion to differentiate the different tissues. METHOD: SV was measured by comparing transmission time of the ultrasound beam through the specimen and through water. Altogether 40 specimens (12 cancer, 14 fibrocystic changes = FCD, 10 fatty tissues, 3 fibroadenomas, and 1 mixed tissue) were analysed. RESULTS: Velocity differed significantly between fat (1478.5 +/- 6.5 m/s) and tumor (1523.1 +/- 5.9 m/s) (p approximately 10(-11)) and between fat and FCD (1526.0 +/- 9.0 m/s) (p approximately 10(-12)). No significant differences and much overlap were seen between the ultrasound velocities of tumors and FCD. Ultrasound velocity in fibroadenomas (1533.2 +/- 3.8 m/s) was comparable with that in carcinomas and FCD. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ultrasound velocity may add complementary information to echogenicity (B-scan). Thus, a locally exact correlation of echogenicity and sound velocity might allow for an improved tissue characterization.