Tissue motion analysis of digitized B-scan images of breast tumors

Palpated tissue motion in patients with both benign and malignant breast disease was quantified from ultrasound B-mode video images using ultrasonic speckle tracking. The displacement response of tissues surrounding benign and malignant breast lesions was compared taking advantage of the altered mechanical properties and thus motion signatures of many tumors relative to their host tissue. Preliminary results indicate that malignant masses drag surrounding tissues when palpated, suggesting infiltration by the tumor into surrounding tissues. Benign breast masses however, exhibited no such dragging. Sample results taken from 8 patients with sonographically apparent breast masses are used to demonstrate the method.