Realization of automated whole breast 3D doppler ultrasound for characterization of breast lesions

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Two million women are diagnosed annually, resulting in 685,000 annual deaths. Early diagnosis is critical to reducing mortality. Although screening with mammography has been shown to have reduced breast cancer-related mortality through early detection, dense breast tissues reduce mammographic sensitivity, potentially delaying diagnoses, and contributing to poorer outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for more accessible and cost-effective supplemental screening technologies, especially for high-risk populations, especially women with dense breasts. To address these challenges, a promising approach involves combining widely available, cost-effective, and accessible ultrasound-based technologies with economical hardware, software modules, and automated techniques. Among these technologies, Doppler imaging plays a crucial role in the clinical evaluation of breast abnormalities, as intratumoural blood flow has been shown to correlate with the aggressiveness and histological grade of the tumour. The development of a novel automated, portable, and a patient-dedicated 3D automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) system for point-of-care breast cancer supplemental screening holds significant promise. The proposed system has previously demonstrated the capability to generate accurate whole-breast B-mode images, which can aid in the early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breasts. Additionally, it offers the advantage of incorporating Doppler imaging for the assessment of blood flow within suspicious lesions, a capability not commonly available with commercial ABUS systems. By leveraging Doppler imaging in conjunction with 3D Bmode ABUS, this innovative approach could improve breast cancer-related health outcomes and equity in access to healthcare, especially for underserved and vulnerable populations.