Evaluation of patient response to neoadjuvant therapy with the use of dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound (DCEUS): Work in progress

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine whether any significant changes of the dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound (DCEUS) quantification parameters can be detected during the course of neoadjuvant therapy (NT) undertaken by patients with breast tumors. Six patients were imaged with DCEUS four times during their therapy course. The maximum diameter and volume of the lesion in conventional ultrasound were also recorded during every scanning. The local density random walk (LDRW) model was fitted on time intensity curves to extract various quantification parameters related to perfusion. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient rs was calculated in order to study whether the perfusion changes of the DCEUS quantification parameters during the therapy are associated with volumetric changes. The rise time (RT) and mean transit time (MTT) quantification parameters are weakly associated with the maximum diameter of the lesion (negative correlation, rs= -0.37). Moderate negative correlation is also found between RT and MTT with volumetric measurements (rs= -0.5). This negative correlation enhances the hypothesis that blood flow in the lesion becomes slower during the course of NT. Data from more patients are necessary for further confirmation of our hypothesis.