Current status of ultrasonic tissue characterization in breast cancer

Early detection and correct diagnosis of breast cancer is necessary and an important determinant of prognosis because of its high incidence, affecting 1 of 13 women in western countries. The recent rapid increase of breast cancer in Japan is due primarily to westernized dietary habits. Clinical sonography, used in screening to detect breast cancer, is increasingly being used as it offers a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and no physical hazards such as x-ray mammography. Ultrasonic tissue characterization study is an important factor in determining diagnostic criteria for breast cancer and to develop new ultrasonic equipment in clinical breast echography. Therefore the current status of ultrasonic tissue characterization is reviewed, high-lighting breast cancer.