The Role Of Color Doppler Ultrasound And Infrared Thermography In Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer

Objective: To determine the value of Color Doppler Ultrasound, infrared thermography and both combination for the diagnosis of breast cancer.Method: The clinical data of 240 patients with breast cancer treated in 2nd affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University from Jun.2002 to Nov.2003 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients underwent the examination of Color Doppler Ultrasound and infrared thermography before operation. The results were analyzed according to tumor site, tumor size, pathology, lymph node metastases between two methods.Results:1. Diagnostic conforming rate of Color Doppler Ultrasound was 85.8%; Diagnostic conforming rate of infrared thermography was 83.0%% there were no significant difference between both (p >0.05). Diagnostic conforming rate of both combination was 96.7%, which was higher than Color Doppler Ultrasound or infrared thermography alone (p <0.05) .2. When size of breast cancer was smaller than 1cm, diagnostic conforming rates of infrared thermography and Color Doppler Ultrasound were 60.0% and 47.6%, respectively, there is significant difference between them (p <0.05). Diagnosticconforming rate of combined detection was 86.7%, which was higher than Color Doppler Ultrasound or infrared thermography alone (p <0.05) .3. In the early-stage breast cancer, diagnostic conforming rates of Color Doppler Ultrasound and infrared thermography was 61.5%and 50.0%, respectively, there is significant difference between them (p <0.05). For the ductal carcinoma in situ and microinvasive ductal cancer, Diagnostic conforming rate of infrared thermography was higher than that of Color Doppler Ultrasound (70% vs. 40%, p <0.05).4. In breast cancer with metastasis of axillary lymph node: Diagnostic conformingrate of Color Doppler Ultrasound was 82.6%; Diagnostic conforming rate of palpation was30.4%, and infrared thermography was 0%. There is significant difference between them (p <0.05). Conclusion:1. For the diagnosis of the early-stage breast cancer, especially the ductal carcinomain situ and microinvasive ductal cancer, Color Doppler Ultrasound is superior to infrared thermography.2. For the diagnosis of small breast cancer (diameter ≤1cm), infrared thermographyis better than Color Doppler Ultrasound.3. Combined detection Color Doppler Ultrasound and infrared thermography couldsignificantly improve the Diagnostic conforming rate of breast cancer.