The value of ultrasound mammography in palpable breast masses.
Between January 1987 and May 1988 a prospective study was carried out on 232 women with a palpable breast mass. They underwent physical examination, x-ray mammography and ultrasound mammography. The results of each study were interpreted independently by separate observers, and consensus was achieved. From all solid tumours histology was available. Compared to x-ray mammography, ultrasound mammography proved to be significantly (p less than 0.025) more sensitive in diagnosing malignant palpable breast masses (98.7% versus 86.8%). However there was no statistical significant difference in specificity between ultrasound mammography and x-ray mammography. Using ultrasound mammography we classified 9 histological proven malignant tumours as such which were negative on plain x-ray mammography. Despite the good results of ultrasound mammography in diagnosing palpable breast lesions it can never replace x-ray mammography in cases of malignancy, because the results of ultrasound mammography with non-palpable synchronous tumours with or without microcalcifications are poor. In some cases of benign lesions diagnosed with ultrasound mammography no x-ray mammography is necessary.
van Oord
J C
JC
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
van der Vliet
A M
AM
Thyn
C J
CJ
Mak
B
B
Hoogeboom
G J
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000295:instrumentation