Role of Ultrasonography in differential diagnosis of palpable breast lumps

Volume : VII, Issue : IV, April - 2018

Dr. Nidhi Sehgal

Background: With advent of high frequency high resolution Ultrasonography, east lumps can be evaluated in a much better and safer manner, as

an adjunct to clinical examination and mammography.

Purpose: Present study has been done to evaluate the role of Ultrasonograpphy as a singular diagnostic modality in differential diagnosis of east

lumps.

Material and methods: This prospective study was conducted over 1 year in which 50 consecutive patients with palpable east lumps on clinical

examination were further evaluated with sonography and later underwent biopsy. Sonological results were compared with clinical diagnosis and

histopathological diagnosis and thus, its diagnostic significance probed.

Results: The typical appearance of most of benign lesions on sonography was circumscribed, smoothly marginated, homogenously hypoechoeic

mass with posterior acoustic enhancement or no alteration while most of malignant masses were irregular or speculated heterogeneously

hypoechoeic lesion with or without posterior shadowing. Sonography showed an overall accuracy of 93.6%, with 97.5% sensitivity for benign and

86.9% sensitivity for malignant masses. The specificity of sonography for the diagnosis of benign masses was 86.9% and for malignant masses it

was 97.5%, respectively.

Conclusion: With all diagnostic indices were statistically significant in this study, USG seems to be a good predictor of east masses before going

for any invasive procedure.