title: The role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
abstract: Ultrasonography (US) of the breast is not applied to its optimal capacity if it is restricted to the differentiation between cystic and solid lesions and evaluation of dense breasts. It can play a major role in the detection of breast cancer; not only because of detection of mammographically occult lesions but also because of more accurate identification of lesion characteristics suspicious of malignancy. Its yield is highest among women younger than 50 years. However, one should keep in mind that the profit obtained by US shows not only the diagnostic accuracy of US but also that of mammography. Further improvement can be achieved by refinement in US diagnosis, especially with respect to the US characteristics of diffusely growing cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zonderland
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary