Feasibility study of contrast-enhanced automated acoustic mammography

The feasibility of implementing image subtraction in through-transmission breast sonography was examined. Acoustic mammograms of women with suspicious findings were obtained using through-transmission imaging. Precontrast images were initially acquired. Then a perflutren liquid microsphere contrast agent solution was injected intravenously, and new sets of images were acquired. Precontrast-postcontrast subtraction images depicting the resulting changes were then obtained and visually compared with other imaging modalities. The ability to detect changes stemming from contrast agent injection in the through-transmission mode was verified. The comparability with x-ray mammography and magnetic resonance imaging was shown. Finally, the ability to compare images obtained before and several months after surgery was confirmed.