Background:Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is frequently employed in the treatment of early and locally advanced breast carcinomas. Evaluating the response of the tumor to such treatment is crucial for deciding subsequent therapeutic steps. Ultrasound and Doppler indices present as a non-invasive and cost-effective approach for this assessment. This study aims to elucidate the role of ultrasound and color doppler indices in assessing the response of breast malignancies to NAC.

Methods:Patients diagnosed with early breast carcinoma and locally advanced breast carcinoma underwent ultrasound and Color Doppler imaging to characterize the lesions. The parameters assessed included tumor size, echogenicity, tumor margins, number of flow signals, resistivity index, pulsatility index, and lymph node size. These assessments were repeated post-NAC and then compared with histopathology findings post-surgery.

Results:At diagnosis, the lesions were predominantly hypoechoic or heteroechoic with irregular margins. The mean tumor size at diagnosis was 17.05 square centimeters. Post-chemotherapy, the mean lesion size reduced to 5.92 square centimeters. There was a notable reduction in the number of flow signals, peak systolic velocity (PSV), resistivity index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) post-NAC, especially in patients who responded well to the treatment. Using histopathology as the gold standard, ultrasound's sensitivity in gauging tumor response to NAC was 86%, while its specificity was 71%.

Conclusion:Ultrasonography, being a non-invasive, cost-effective modality without radiation exposure, proves to be a reliable tool for assessing breast carcinoma response to NAC. Such assessment is pivotal in strategizing further therapeutic plans.