Breast cancer detection rate with ultrasound comparable to mammography

Abstract

Ultrasound is comparable to mammography in detecting breast cancer and should be considered when testing for the disease, say the authors of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.1 Mammography is not commonly available in developing nations, and alternative methods such as ultrasound need to be tested, according to the authors. Researchers recruited 2809 women across 20 different sites in the United States, Canada, and Argentina to the American College of Radiology Imaging Network protocol 6666 study of breast cancer screening. Of the participants, 2662 completed 3 annual breast screenings by ultrasound and film-screen or digital mammography and underwent a biopsy or a 12-month follow-up. Findings indicated that the number of ultrasound screenings was comparable to that of mammography and that there was a greater percentage of invasive and lymph node-negative cancers diagnosed among those who had undergone ultrasound; however, the study also reported a greater number of false-positive results among women screened with ultrasound. Nevertheless, the authors add that the number of women recalled for additional testing became more comparable to mammography on incidence screening rounds, and they suggest that ultrasound be considered a supplemental test for women with dense breasts who do not meet high-risk criteria for magnetic resonance imaging screening and for high-risk women with dense breasts who are unable to tolerate magnetic resonance imaging.