title: The accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of breast pathology in symptomatic women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females, accounting for 23% of total cancer cases and 14% of cancer deaths worldwide. The developing countries are catching up with this trend. Breast ultrasound when properly performed and interpreted, is an indispensable tool in breast imaging. The early diagnosis and treatment of breast masses reduces the morbidity and mortality associated with delayed diagnosis of breast carcinoma. The use of breast ultrasound is gaining ground in recent time, this is due to current advances in ultrasound technology which permit greater spatial and contrast resolution and shortened scan time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of ultrasound in the detection of palpable breast masses and to correlate the findings of ultrasound with the findings of fine needle aspiration cytology, or histopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast ultrasound scanning was done in 100 patients with signs and symptoms of breast lesion referred from the Surgical out Patient Clinic to the Radiodiagnosis Department of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Histology reports were collected from either the case note or Morbid Anatomy department to correlate the findings with ultrasound diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 41.7 +/- 11.34 (18-59) years. Symptoms of breast lesion were highest in the age group 41-50 years 38 (38%), and least in 18-20 years 4 (4%). When the use of ultrasonography was compared with the histopathology report in the diagnosis of breast lesion in the studied population, the sensitivity was 100%, specificity (96.6%), accuracy (97%), posting predictive value (PPV) 81.3%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 100%. The accuracy, specificity and PPV however decreased with increasing age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonography of the breast is useful in the diagnosis of breast lesions, because of the high sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic value it exhibited with histopathologic findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy, Radiodiagnosis and Radiography, College of Medicine University of Lagos & Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 12003 Lagos, Nigeria. nick3irurhe@yahoo.com
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Irurhe
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy, Radiodiagnosis and Radiography, College of Medicine University of Lagos & Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adekola
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy, Radiodiagnosis and Radiography, College of Medicine University of Lagos & Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G O G
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Awosanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy, Radiodiagnosis and Radiography, College of Medicine University of Lagos & Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Adeyomoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, Radiotherapy, Radiodiagnosis and Radiography, College of Medicine University of Lagos & Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Olowoyeye
authors.affiliation: Department of Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology, College of Medicine University of Lagos & Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Awolola
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine University of Lagos & Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Olajide
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary; D055815:Young Adult