Breast ultrasonographic features and internal mammary artery hemodynamic indexes during normal pregnancy

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de ginecologia e obstetrícia Vol. 37; no. 9; pp. 434 - 439
• Main Authors: Holanda, Antônio Arildo Reginaldo de, Gonçalves, Ana Katherine da Silveira, Maranhão, Técia Maria de Oliveira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemiologic Studies; Female; Hemodynamics; Humans; Mammary Arteries - physiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimesters; Ultrasonography, Mammary
• ISSN: 1806-9339
• DOI: 10.1590/SO100-720320150005368

To evaluate breast ultrasonographic features and hemodynamic indexes of the internal mammary arteries in normal pregnant women, and their correlation with the gestational periods. Observational and cross-sectional, epidemiological, study, conducted between August 2013 and February 2015, with 93 women divided into three groups: first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. The dependent variables were thickness of the skin, of subcutaneous tissue, fibroglandular tissue, and retrommamary adipose tissue, the diameter of the ducts, as well as the pulsatility and resistance indexes of the internal mammary arteries. Independent variables were the three periods of gestation. Repeated measures ANOVA with the multiple comparison Tukey test and a test of contrasts were used for statistical analysis. The Levene test was used to test the homogeneity of variances between periods of gestation. Student's t-test was used to evaluate the difference between nulliparous and non -nulliparous women, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis between the two breasts. The level of significance was set at 5%. Mean age was 26.6±4.6 years, with no significant difference among groups. Breast location (right/left) and gestational period had no significant effect on the thickness of the skin, of subcutaneous tissue and adipose retromammary tissue. However, the thickness of fibroglandular tissue and the diameter of the ducts showed a significant difference according to gestational period (p<0.001), i.e., from the first to the second and to the third trimesters. Doppler flowmetry of the internal mammary arteries showed a difference between breasts and between gestational periods, i.e., the measurements of the right breast were greater than those of the left, and these values decreased throughout pregnancy (p<0.001). The average thickness of fibroglandular tissue and the diameter of the ducts showed significant differences from the first to the second and to the third trimesters, with no differences being observed between the two breasts. The pulsatility and resistance indexes of the internal mammary arteries decreased progressively throughout pregnancy.