Combined Mammographic and Sonographic Evaluation of Palpable Breast Masses in Correlation With Histopathological Examination

Abstract

Aim & Objectives: To evaluate the role of combined mammographic and sonographic imaging in patients with palpable masses of the breast. To correlate these findings with histopathological diagnosis (FNAC/ Biopsy). To provide systematic and practical approach to image evaluation of palpable breast masses and then evaluate its image characteristics which help in decision making by clinician as to go for biopsy or lesion follow up. Materials and Methods: 40 patients aged 30 or above with palpable abnormalities of breast underwent combined mammographic and sonographic evaluation. Results: 18 patients (45%) of the palpable abnormalities had benign result and 8 patients (20%) had malignant result. Imaging evaluation resulted in 14 (35%) patients as suspicious cases. All lesions categorized as suspicious underwent biopsy, among them 12 resulted in malignancy and 2 benign findings. The sensitivity and specificity of combined evaluation is 85.7% and 100% respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value are 100% and 86.4% respectively. In this evaluation, NPV was 86.4%, a negative test result provides reassurance that the patient is unlikely to have cancer. Conclusion: Combined mammography and sonography is appropriate to characterize the palpable breast lesion and avoids unnecessary interventions in which imaging findings are unequivocally benign. Negative findings on combined mammographic and sonographic imaging have very high specificity and are reassuring to the patient.