Duplex sonography of mammary tumors: a prospective study of 75 patients.

Seventy-five breast neoplasms have been examined with duplex sonography to establish the optimal threshold value of systolic peak flow velocity to differentiate benign from malignant tumors. It could be shown that a systolic peak flow of > or = 0.2 m/s (Doppler angle corrected to 0 degrees) provides the best relationship between sensitivity and specificity concerning characterization of tumors. However, the data we obtained indicate that only positive findings are potentially reliable. Negative sonographic results should not be used to conclude a lesion is benign. Additionally, a new algorithm for breast tumors in which duplex sonography is an integral part is discussed.