title: Diagnostic mammography and ultrasonography for palpable and nonpalpable breast cancer in women aged 30 to 39 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between the tumor size of breast cancer by palpation and the sensitivity of mammography (MMG) and ultrasonography (US), and which modality can detect nonpalpable breast cancer in women aged 30 to 39 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated the tumor size by palpation, breast density, and the sensitivity of MMG and US in 165 patients aged 30 to 39 years. Palpation, US, and MMG were performed with prior knowledge of the results of other modalities. The tumor size on palpation were classified into Tnp; nonpalpable, T1p; 2 cm or less, T2p; more than 2 cm, but not more than 5 cm, and T3p; more than 5 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 165 patients, 147 patients (89%) showed mammographically dense breasts. Of 165 cancers, 14 (8%) were Tnp, 40 (24%) were T1p, 82 (50%) were T2p, and 29 (18%) were T3p. The sensitivity of MMG was 57% (8 of 14) for Tnp, 78% (31 of 40) for T1p, 90% (74 of 82) for T2p, and 97% (28 of 29) for T3p. The sensitivity of US was 43% (6 of 14) for Tnp and 100% for palpable cancers. Of 14 nonpalpable cancers, 4 (29%), 4 (29%), and 2 (14%) could be detected by only MMG, bloody nipple discharge, and US.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sensitivity of MMG depends on the tumor size on palpation in this age range. MMG fails to detect relatively large palpable cancers. On the other hand, US can detect all palpable cancers. However, the sensitivity of US declines for nonpalpable cancers. For the detection of nonpalpable cancers, MMG, US, and nipple discharge are complementary modalities.
authors: Department of Breast Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Ariake, Tokyo, Japan. tomo.osako@jfcr.or.jp
authors: Tomo
authors: T
authors: Osako
authors: Takuji
authors: T
authors: Iwase
authors: Kaoru
authors: K
authors: Takahashi
authors: Kotaro
authors: K
authors: Iijima
authors: Yumi
authors: Y
authors: Miyagi
authors: Seiichiro
authors: S
authors: Nishimura
authors: Keiichiro
authors: K
authors: Tada
authors: Masujiro
authors: M
authors: Makita
authors: Futoshi
authors: F
authors: Akiyama
authors: Goi
authors: G
authors: Sakamoto
authors: Fujio
authors: F
authors: Kasumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008499:Medical Records; D010173:Palpation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*