Recent technological advancements in breast ultrasound

• Published in: Ultrasonics 2016-08, Vol.70, p.183-190
• Main Authors: Eisenbrey, John R., Dave, Jaydev K., Forsberg, Flemming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Animals; Arrays; Automated breast ultrasound; Breast; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - physiopathology; Breast ultrasound; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Elastic Modulus; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - instrumentation; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - methods; Elastography; Equipment Design; Female; High frequencies; Humans; Image Enhancement - instrumentation; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - instrumentation; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Mammography - instrumentation; Mammography - methods; Multimodal Imaging - instrumentation; Multimodal Imaging - methods; Operators; Reproducibility of Results; Screening; Sensitivity and Specificity; Technology Assessment, Biomedical; Tumors; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2016.04.021

•Recent technological advancements in the field of breast ultrasound are reviewed.•Higher frequency arrays now provide improved resolution in breast ultrasound.•Automated systems now enable quick, operator-independent volume collection.•Elastography approaches may provide diagnosis based on lesion stiffness.•Contrast-enhanced ultrasound may be useful in breast cancer applications. Ultrasound is becoming increasingly common as an imaging tool for the detection and characterization of breast tumors. This paper provides an overview of recent technological advancements, especially those that may have an impact in clinical applications in the field of breast ultrasound in the near future. These advancements include close to 100% fractional bandwidth high frequency (5–18MHz) 2D and 3D arrays, automated breast imaging systems to minimize the operator dependence and advanced processing techniques, such as those used for detection of microcalcifications. In addition, elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound examinations that are expected to further enhance the clinical importance of ultrasound based breast tumor screening are briefly reviewed. These techniques have shown initial promise in clinical trials and may translate to more comprehensive clinical adoption in the future.