Objective:

To evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differential diagnosis of breast benign and malignant lesions.

Methods:

The CEUS features of pathologically proven breast lesions of 66 patients (41 malignant tumors and 25 benign lesions) were analyzed retrospectively. Conventional ultrasound and CEUS were performed in all cases preoperatively. The sonographic features of conventional ultrasound and

CEUS were recorded and analyzed.

Results:

There were significant differences (

P

0.05) in enhancement order

larger diameter of lesions after CEUS

claw-shaped vessels

enhancement pattern and the lasting hyperenhancement time between benign and malignant lesions. Most malignant tumors were characterized by centripetal enhancement

uneven enhancement

and the enhancement range was larger than conventional ultrasound

claw-shaped enhancement. Most malignant and benign breast lesions were hyperenhancement

but the duration of hyperenhancement in malignant tumors was longer than that in benign lesions (

P

0.05). Uneven enhancement and the enhancement range had the best diagnostic performance for breast malignant tumors. The sensitivity

specificity

accuracy

and area under curve (AUC) were 78.0%

68.0%

74.2% and 0.73

respectively.

Conclusion:

These CEUS sonographic features

such as enhancement order

larger diameter of lesions after CEUS

claw-shaped vessels

enhancement pattern and the lasting hyperenhancement time are helpful for differential diagnosis of breast tumors which are worthy of clinical application.