[Doppler sonography of breast cancer]

The article gives a review of the pathophysiology of tumour vascularity and currently available methods of Doppler sonography. The advantages and limitations of continuous wave Doppler, duplex Doppler and colour-coded Doppler sonography are discussed. Current results, including our own personal experience, show that Doppler sonography does not yet provide sufficient proof of malignancy or benignity. The quantification of tumour vascularity for prognostic reasons or for therapy planning and monitoring may be another potential application of Doppler sonography. New methods are now available for quantitative evaluation. Their validity, however, remains to be determined.