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Sonomammography in benign breast disease.
1X-ray Department, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton.
The British Journal of Radiology
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Direct-contact B-scan sonomammography accurately assesses breast lumps, potentially avoiding unnecessary biopsies. This ultrasound technique can also detect unsuspected malignancy, improving diagnostic outcomes for breast conditions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Direct-contact B-scan sonomammography is a key imaging modality for breast disease assessment.
- Accurate differentiation between benign and malignant breast conditions is crucial for patient management.
- Unnecessary biopsies contribute to healthcare costs and patient anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of B-scan sonomammography in patients with clinically benign breast disease.
- To assess the utility of ultrasound in preventing unnecessary biopsies.
- To determine if sonomammography can identify malignancy missed by other imaging methods.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 480 patients with clinically benign breast disease.
- Direct-contact B-scan sonomammography was performed on all participants.
- Histopathological correlation was obtained for 121 patients who underwent biopsy.
Main Results:
- Ultrasound correctly identified benign disease in most cases, averting biopsy.
- Eight cases of diffuse benign disease were missed by ultrasound.
- Four malignancies were initially misdiagnosed as benign by ultrasound.
- 25 false positive diagnoses of carcinoma were made due to attenuating shadows.
Conclusions:
- Direct-contact B-scan sonomammography is valuable in excluding focal masses and reducing unnecessary biopsies.
- The technique can reveal unsuspected malignancy, especially when mammography shows dense tissue.
- Careful interpretation is needed to minimize false positives and negatives in breast cancer diagnosis.