Detection of breast carcinoma: comparison of automated water-path whole-breast sonography, mammography, and physical examination.
A comparative study of independently conducted physical examination, x-ray mammography, and sonography of the breast was carried out on 786 women having 77 excisional biopsies with 31 proven breast carcinomas. On breast sonography, 68% of the carcinomas were demonstrated with three false-positive diagnoses, compared with 65% cancer detection rate on physical examination with 37 false positives, and 77% detection rate on mammography with 15 false positives. Sonography was considered complementary to the other methods and of distinct usefulness after mammography (1) to examine the dense breast; (2) to study dense, poorly demonstrated areas; (3) to differentiate cystic from solid masses; and (4) to study breasts with augmentation mammoplasties. There were no added benefits in mammographically normal fatty breasts. The procedure was readily accepted by both women and their referring physicians.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D010808:Physical Examination; D014463:Ultrasonography