[Vascularization of fibroadenomas: contrast harmonic imaging compared with contrast-enhanced power doppler].

Purpose: To compare contrast material-enhanced harmonic power Doppler ultrasonography (CHI) with conventional contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound (CPD) in depicting the vascularity of fibroadenomas.

Materials And Methods: Forty patients with fibroadenomas (aged 19-61 years) underwent conventional contrast-enhanced and harmonic power Doppler US. According to a standardized examination protocol, serial dynamic scans were obtained before and at 30, 90 and 150 seconds after injection of contrast agent. Video-taped scans were independently reviewed by three blinded readers with regard to parameter artifacts, degree of Doppler signal enhancement, demarcation of vessels and extent of vessel visualization.

Results: The number of intratumoral power Doppler signals depicted was similar with both techniques at 30-90 seconds after contrast administration; however, after 90 seconds, CPD depicted significantly more intratumoral signals than did CHI (p < 0.0001). CHI was superior to CPD with regard to "blooming" or motion-related artifacts (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: CHI balances the increased susceptibility of CPD to interference from clutter artifacts and thus allows the depiction of vessels that may have been obscured on CPD at similar system settings.