title: [Ultrasound follow-up of palpable solid, probably benign breast lesions (BI-RADS category III)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether palpable non-calcified solid breast masses with benign morphology on ultrasound can be classified as probably benign and whether these lesions fulfill the criteria required for BI-RADS (TM) category III.
  
  
  METHODS
  This analysis includes 78 patients with 80 palpable non-calcified solid masses that were classified as probably benign at initial sonography. Of 78 patients, 66 had periodic imaging surveillance (2 - 8 years, mean 4.6 years). The remaining 12 patients had a biopsy after initial imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 64 patients under surveillance, palpable lesions remained stable at follow-up. In 2 patients lesions increased in size during follow-up and no malignancy was diagnosed at subsequent open biopsy. In 19 of the 66 patients, 29 additional nonpalpable lesions of similar morphology were detected on ultrasound. No malignancy was diagnosed in the 12 patients, who had a biopsy after initial imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that palpable non-calcified solid breast masses with benign morphology on ultrasound can be classified as probably benign (BI-RADS (TM) category III). Biopsy can be averted when lesions remain stable at follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Radiologie Steyr, Stadtplatz 30, Steyr, Osterreich.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Helbich
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fuchsjäger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hopf
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morgun
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mallek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001706:Biopsy; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D013997:Time Factors; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary