J Korean Radiol Soc.  1997 Sep;37(3):561-565.

Comparison between Mammography and Ultrasonography for Palpable Breast Mass: Focusing Fibroadenoma and Breast Cancer

• Kim DK
• Koh MK
• Choi CS
• Chung SY
• Yi JG
• Yoon DY
• Kim HC
• Bae SH

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of our study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of mammography and breast ultrasonography between fibroadenoma and palpable breast cancer and to evaluate the feasibility of ultrasonography as a primary diagnostic modality to differentiate between these two tumor types.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In 36 cases of fibroadenoma and 35 of breast cancer, all palpable and pathologically-proven, the diagnostic accuracy of mammography and ultrasonography was retrospectively analysed.
RESULTS
In fibroadenoma cases, the diagnostic accuracy of mammography and ultrasonography was 53% and 80%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0162). In cases of breast cancer, the corresponding figures were 74% and 82%, respectively ; the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.55). Overall, the diagnostic accuracy of mammography and ultrasonography was 63% and 82%, respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.0164). The total diagnostic accuracy of both studies was 90%, and this was significantly different (p=0.044) from that of ultrasonography (82%).
CONCLUSION
In patients who have clinically palpable breast masses, ultrasonography can be recommended as the primary diagnostic modality, though for other breast lesions, mammography is the recommended primary modality.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms, radiography; Breast neoplasms, US; Ultrasound(US), comparative studies

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Fibroadenoma*
Humans
Mammography*
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonography*
Ultrasonography, Mammary