title: [Diagnostic framework of nonpalpable lesions of the breast].
abstract: Mammography is the most sensitive test for non-palpable lesions, but its specificity is quite limited. When a decision for biopsy is based only on the mammographic appearance the benign/malignant biopsy ratio (B/M) is around 3:1. The B/M varies according to the radiological pattern being favourable for stellate opacities, high for regular opacities, and intermediate for distortions and microcalcifications. Aspiration cytology of non-palpable lesions, either sonographically or stereotaxically guided, is highly accurate. When the decision for surgical biopsy is taken also on the basis of cytology, B/M may be reduced by up to 0.5:1. As false negatives are expected for cytology, lesions which are strongly suspicious at mammography must be biopsied anyway. Sonography guided aspiration is possible in about a half of mammographically detected non-palpable lesions, particularly for opacities, whereas distortions and microcalcification are seldom visualized at sonography. Cytology should be routinely performed in the presence of questionable non-palpable lesions.
authors.affiliation: Centro per lo Studio e la Prevenzione Oncologica, Firenze.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciatto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosselli Del Turco
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged