A Pilot Study Evaluation of the Efficacy of SonoVue to Detect and Characterise Breast Lesions

Ultrasound is a well-established imaging modality for the evaluation of breast disease. The investigators' objective is to characterise the properties of an intravascular ultrasonographic contrast agent SonoVue (sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles) to improve the diagnostic value of the ultrasound examination in patients with different breast lesions. The final purpose of this ultrasonography is to allow the early detection of tumors and to improve the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. SonoVue® (sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles) is a microbubbles preparation that is stable, resistant to pressure, and specifically designed to be used as a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound could provide a non-invasive technique to evaluate the morphology of breast tumour vascularity.