To investigate the value of high-frequency ultrasound in assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with breast dysplasia using.

From March to September in 2014, 50 patients with breast dysplasia in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine were enrolled in the study. In addition, they were treated with Xiaozheng pills. Before and after treatment, these patients were examined using ultrasound. The thickness of the breast gland layer in each patient was measured. When the dilated ducts lactiferous, cysts, hypoechoic areas, or nodules of the breast were detected, the diameter or volume was measured or calculated. A grading system of the breast dysplasia was used to evaluate the disease degree, and the quadrants of the breast dysplasia were counted. The thickness of the breast gland layer, the volume of cysts and nodules, the diameter of hypoechoic areas and the dilated ducts lactiferous, the number of the breast dysplasia were compared with the paired t-test. The grading of the breast dysplasia was compared with rank sum test.

There were significant decreases in the thickness of the grand layer, the diameters of the ducts lactiferous and the hypoechoic area after treatments [(15.92±4.73) mm vs (13.02±4.20) mm, t=2.240, P<0.01; (2.26±0.58) mm vs (1.71±0.47) mm, t=5.202, P<0.01; (21.14±5.57) mm vs (17.80±4.63) mm, t=5.529, P<0.01]. However, there were no significant differences in the volume of cysts and nodules. The grading of the breast dysplasia showed statistical difference (z=-5.667, P<0.01), and the number of the breast dysplasia quadrants was reduced markedly (5.38±1.85 vs 3.28±1.97, t=7.566, P<0.01).

Ultrasound can be an effective method in assessment of patients with breast dysplasia treated with the traditional Chinese medicine. The assessment can be based on some signs, including the thickness of the grand layer, the diameters of the ducts lactiferous, and the diameters of the hypoechoic area. The grading system and breast quadrants counting in these patients may be added as supplementary criteria to make a complete therapeutic evaluation.