Both mammography and ultrasound imaging have sub-optimal sensitivity for the detection of solid breast lesions. We
investigate the feasibility of detecting occult solid breast lesions using ultrasound propagation velocity differences
between malignant lesions and surrounding breast tissue in a phantom study using 3D ultrasound. In this technique, the
breast is placed on a flat backplate and imaged using a 3D ultrasound system. The backplate serves as a reference plane
in the resulting 3D image. The difference in ultrasound propagation velocity through solid lesions versus surrounding
breast tissue produces a shift in the apparent elevation of the backplate in the resulting image. Visible backplate
distortion may therefore indicate the presence of an occult solid breast lesion. We provide a mathematical model to
predict backplate distortion as a function of lesion thickness, and validate this theory experimentally using multi-compartment
agar phantoms with embedded lesions ranging from 2 mm to 16 mm in thickness. Two-dimensional
backplate elevation maps were constructed, and visible backplate distortions were observed for lesions of thickness 4
mm and greater. Measured backplate distortions were in excellent agreement with our theoretical predictions for these
lesions. This study suggests that ultrasound propagation velocity differences between solid lesions and surrounding
tissue may be useful as an additional screening tool for detection and localization of otherwise occult solid breast lesions.
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