Ultrasonic diagnosis of malignant and benign human breast lesions

Since 1979 445 ultrasound examinations of the breast have been performed. Histological examinations took place in 268 cases. There were 91 patients with 97 carcinomas (5 patients had multicentric carcinomas). In every case x-ray mammography preceded ultrasound examination. The over-all detection rate of malignant breast lesions was 90% by ultrasound examination and corresponded well to the x-ray mammographic findings with 93%. However, false positive results were obtained in 28% of the patients on the basis of sonographic examination. Cysts--with an incidence of 12% in all benign changes in this study--were always correctly diagnosed by ultrasonography. According to these results ultrasonography of the breast may be considered a meaningful additional method to preoperative examination.