Diagnostic value of radiological breast imaging in a non-screening population.
The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of breast imaging in the diagnosis of breast cancer in a non-screening population. In a consecutive set of patients referred for mammography in one year, the results of palpation and radiological breast imaging were scored on a 5-point grading scale and linked to pathology as gold standard after a follow up period of one year. The diagnostic performance was studied by logistic regression analysis and ROC-curves. There were 1,944 breast examinations in 1,890 patients and 3,816 breasts. Pathology results reported 118 malignancies in 115 women. With a cut-off point between benign and uncertain benign a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 98% was found for radiological imaging. ROC-curves showed a significant increase in diagnostic performance when radiology was added to results of palpation and age (p = 0.007). Radiological imaging tests have a large diagnostic value in the detection of breast cancer in addition to palpation and age. A sensitivity close to 100% could be reached.
Flobbe
K
K
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. kfl@rdia.azm.nl
van der Linden
E S
ES
Kessels
A G
AG
van Engelshoven
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity