The acoustic properties of microcalcifications in the context of breast ultrasound Free

Breast microcalcifications are small crystals of calcium phosphates which are important diagnostic indicators under mammography. Despite continuing advances in the resolution and sensitivity of modern scanners, the role of ultrasound in the breast clinic is limited by the inability of current ultrasound practice to visualize microcalcifications reliably. While mammography is currently the gold standard for their detection, approximately 70% of breast biopsies prompted by the presentation of microcalcifications result in negative biopsy. The improved visualization of microcalcifications under ultrasound could provide additional diagnostic information in these cases, potentially reducing the number of negative biopsies. A review is presented of the theoretical and empirical results to date of this group’s studies of the acoustic properties of microcalcifications as characterized through the application of classical theoretical models, including the Faran model, and through clinical studies of suspected in vivo microcalcifications and breast tissue backscatter. The similarities found between theoretical and clinical results strongly suggest that microcalcifications have elastic scattering properties. The findings are presented in an analysis of the relative impact of phase aberration, spatial resolution, and tissue backscatter on the visualization of microcalcifications with ultrasound. [Work supported by NIH Grant No. RO1‐CA43334.]