Shivaraj ML

As malignant breast mass is common diagnostic problem in clinical practice, detection of breast cancer in its earliest possible stage can be done by Mammography and USG. Mammography is considered gold standard to evaluate clinically suspected breast masses and screening for breast cancer and USG is useful adjunctive modality and helps characterizing mammographically detected palpable masses, especially in patients with dense breasts (young women) and as second look procedure where an abnormality has been identified using MRI or scintimammography. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Mammography and USG for detection of benign/ malignant lesions. 50 patients were selected for the study for which they underwent Mammography and USG examination after explaining the entire procedure and the risks involved.In our study of 50 patients, palpable breast lumps were found to be present in 30-39 years age group (23) followed by 40-49 years age group (18). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of only mammographic evaluation of malignant breast lumps is 60%, 84.4% and 82% respectively and of only USG evaluation of breast lumps is 80%, 88.9% and 88%. While sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of combined mammographic and USG evaluation of malignant breast lumps is 100%, 91% and 92% respectively. The role of mammography in patients with palpable breast lumps is to show a benign cause for palpable abnormality and to avoid further intervention and of USG as a useful adjunctive modality which helps to characterize a mammographically detected palpable abnormality. The sensitivity and specificity of detection of carcinoma would be increased if both mammography and sonography are combined which will lead to fewer unnecessary biopsies.