Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Palpable Breast Mass and Correlation with Histopathology

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality. The distinction by physical examination of physiologic nodularity from abnormal masses can be difficult, while the clinical differentiation of a malignant mass from a benign one is difficult; the medical as well as potential legal consequences of missing a palpable carcinoma are high. There are significant number of reported cases of false-negative findings on mammography and the great desire not to miss a malignant lesion in the early stage of disease lead to aggressive biopsy, but the biopsy rate for cancer is only 10.0% to 30.0%. This means that 70.0% to 90.0% of breast biopsies are performed for benign diseases, which induce unnecessary patients discomfort and anxiety in addition to increasing costs to the patient. Clearly, there is a great need for development of additional reliable methods to complement the existing diagnostic procedures to avoid unnecessary biopsy. This cross sectional study was carried out on 43 patients having palpable breast mass, attended in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh from 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2013 for the period of two year. These patients were evaluated by USG at the Department of Radiology and Imaging and histopathological examination at the Department of Pathology of the same College to confirm the diagnosis. In diagnosis of malignant mass by USG, 9(20.9%) cases were diagnosed as malignant and 34(79.1%) cases as other than malignant. Eight out of 9 were sonographically diagnosed as malignant lesions also proved as malignant lesion by histopathology and 1 other than malignant. Out of 34 sonographically diagnosed cases of other than malignant lesions 32 were proved histopathologically and 2 did not match with sonographic findings. USG, in diagnosis of malignant lesion, sensitivity was 80.0%, specificity 96.97%, positive predictive value (PPV) (88.89%), negative predictive value 94.12% and accuracy was 93.02% and comparable to other study. In diagnosis of benign lesion by USG, sensitivity was 96.97%, specificity 80.0%, positive predictive value (PPV) (94.12%), negative predictive value 88.89% and accuracy was 93.02%. So, USG is an appropriate imaging method for diagnosis & differential diagnosis of palpable breast mass.