[Non-palpable lesions of the breast: identification, localization, significance].
The authors report the diagnostic protocol used in the Breast Disease Unit of the 1st Surgical Department - University of Rome "La Sapienza" - (1987-1990) as well as the techniques for identifying and localizing nonpalpable lesions of the breast. Mammographic screening in women over 40 years, ultrasonography in women under 40 years, X-ray and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and stereotactic guide wire placement with excisional biopsy, resulted to be diagnostic in 79 cases of carcinoma of the breast (2.0%) of which 13 (16.4%) were nonpalpable lesions. Moreover, the importance of nonpalpable lesions is discussed, pointing out how "very early" diagnosis of carcinoma of the breast plays a fundamental role with respect to both prognosis and treatment. The very early diagnosis of a "minimal" carcinoma ensures a significant increase in survival as well as more conservative surgical procedures that offer a better quality of life being less psychologically traumatic.
Borghese
M
M
I Clinica Chirurgica Generale e Terapia Chirurgica, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Roma.
Schiffino
L
L
Vicario
S
S
Galanti
P
P
Giuliani
A
A
Tocchi
A
A
Caporale
A
A
Terrinoni
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged