Increasing the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic imaging in patients at high risk for breast cancer could provide substantial clinical benefit by improving diagnosis, preventing over-treatment, and reducing healthcare costs. Acoustic angiography is a new type of contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging which is specifically sensitive to microvascular structure and density. It evaluates tumor micro-vasculature and may provide a powerful prognostic tool for the diagnosis of breast cancer, and eventually for treatment evaluation.~Sixty patients who are to have a clinical surgical breast biopsy based on results from pre-study standard of care (SOC) imaging will be recruited from the UNC Breast Clinic for participation in the study. The primary objective of this single arm study is to compare the sensitivity and specificity of acoustic angiography with traditional b-mode ultrasound in the distinction of malignant versus benign breast lesions. Secondary objectives include a comparison of area under the curve (AUC) for acoustic angiography versus b-mode ultrasound, and comparison of radiologist preference for the two imaging techniques for each of 3 lesion characteristics.
Purpose: The primary objective of this single arm study is to compare the sensitivity and specificity of acoustic angiography with traditional b-mode ultrasound in the distinction of malignant versus benign breast lesions. Secondary objectives include a comparison of area under the curve (AUC) for acoustic angiography versus b-mode ultrasound, and comparison of radiologist preference for the two imaging techniques for each of 3 lesion characteristics.~Participants: Sixty patients who are to have a clinical surgical breast biopsy based on results from pre-study standard of care (SOC) imaging will be recruited from the UNC Breast Clinic for participation in the study.~Procedures (methods): This is a one arm single center study of patients with suspicious breast lesions (BIRADS 4 or 5) from the UNC Breast Clinic that consent to undergo an acoustic angiography in conjunction with b-mode ultrasound prior to their scheduled biopsy.