The role of sonography in the diagnosis of cystic lesions of the breast.

Introduction: Breast sonography is appropriate in the initial assessment of a women younger than 30 years with a palpable lump and in the adjunctive evaluation of mammographic masses, and palpable abnormalities not seen mammographically.

Material And Methods: A total of 269 patients underwent breast examination with ultrasound due to the presence of bilateral or unilateral palpable lesions. Women under 40 years old were submitted to US examination only while patients older than 40 years underwent US breast assessment and conventional mammography.

Results: Mammography had an accurancy of 57.3% and confirmed diagnosis in 113 out of 197 patients; in 57 patients (28.4%) it identified the lesion but could not determine the diagnosis. False-positive results for malignancy were detected in 23 patients (11.7%) and there were no false-negative results. Ultrasound assessment had an accuracy in diagnosis reaching 87.3%, 172 cases out of 196. (87.3% vs 57.3% p < 0.05); false-positive results were identified in 17 cases (8.6%).

Conclusion: Sonography demonstrates a better diagnostic significance than mammography in the early detection of cystic breast carcinoma.