Tumor vascular signals in renal masses: detection with Doppler US.

Abstract

The vascularity of 49 renal masses (26 malignant and 23 benign lesions) was investigated with duplex Doppler ultrasound. Doppler signals obtained at the margins of renal masses were defined as "tumor signals" when the Doppler-shifted frequency of the lesion exceeded the frequency shift in the ipsilateral main renal artery. These exceeded 2.5 kHz with a 3-MHz insonating frequency. Among the 26 renal masses that subsequently proved to be malignant, tumor signals were obtained in 15 of 18 (83%) untreated renal cell carcinomas, in three of four Wilms tumors, and in two patients with metastases to the kidney, but not in the one patient with lymphoma. None of the 23 benign renal masses demonstrated tumor signals. Tumor vascularity in malignant lesions gives rise to abnormal, high-velocity, Doppler-shifted signals that can help in the differential diagnosis of renal masses.

Patients with Breast Cancer: Differences in Color Doppler Flow and Gray-Scale US Features of Benign and Malignant Axillary Lymph Nodes

“…These bizarre new blood vessels have thin walls without a muscular layer and frequently show chaotic anastomoses and shunts that end in amorphous spaces (29). Tumor vascularity has been detected with Doppler US in carcinoma of the breast, liver, and other organs (15,16,30,31). Although arteriovenous shunts and lack of muscular layers in vessels in malignant tumors have been reported (15,16), the same has not been reported in metastatic lymph nodes to date.…”

How to Find an Isoechoic Lesion with Breast US

“…Although the vascularity of tumors can be determined noninvasively by using color Doppler imaging, differentiation between Doppler signals and background disturbances is not easy in small vessels with slow flow and few reflectors (33). Depiction of tumor vascularization can, however, be improved by using US contrast agents.…”

Color Doppler ultrasonography findings of bladder tumors: correlation with stage and histopathologic grade

“…Color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) reflects tumor vascularity in many kinds of malignancies including ovarian (5,6,13,23), renal (18), breast (3), and prostate (19,20). However, to the best of our knowledge, the literature on CDUS findings in urinary bladder carcinoma is limited (10).…”