Evaluation of the Clinical and Imaging Findings of Breast Examinations in a Tertiary Facility in Ghana.

Emmanuel Kobina Mesi Edzie,Joshua Mensah Kpobi,Eric Aidoo,Philip Narteh Gorleku,Ewurama Andam Idun,Richard Ato Edzie,Kwasi Agyen-Mensah,Frank Quarshie,Adu Tutu Amankwa,Klenam Dzefi-Tettey,Abdul Raman Asemah,Henry Kusodzi

doi:10.1155/2021/5541230

Abstract

Breast diseases have been one of the major battles the world has been fighting. In winning this fight, the role of medical imaging cannot be overlooked. Breast imaging reveals hidden lesions which aid physicians to give the appropriate diagnosis and definitive treatment, hence this study, to determine the clinical and imaging findings of breast examinations to document the radiologic features in our setting. This cross-sectional retrospective study reviewed the sociodemographics, imaging reports (mammography and ultrasonography with BI-RADS scores and their features), and the clinical data of 425 patients from September 2017 to September 2020 in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. 72 solid lesions with their histology reports were also reviewed. Data obtained were organized, coded, and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 20.0. The results obtained were presented in appropriate tables and charts. A chi-squared test was employed for associations and statistical significance was specified at p ≤ 0.05. 63.29% of the patients were married, but only 18.59% had a positive family history of breast cancer. BI-RADS scores 1(57.46%) and 2(27.99%) were the most recurrent findings. The most common BI-RADS 2, 3, 4, and 5 imaging features were benign-looking axillary lymph nodes (66.33%), well-defined solid masses (61.54%), ill-defined solid masses (42.86%), and ill-defined solid masses with suspicious-looking axillary lymph nodes (100.00%), respectively. The most frequent indications were routine screening (49.18%), mastalgia (26.59%), and painless breast masses (19.77%). There was significant association between duration of symptoms and breast cancer (p value = 0.007). In conclusion, routine breast screening and mastalgia were the topmost indications for breast imaging. BI-RADS 1 and 2 were the commonest BI-RADS scores, and benign-looking axillary lymph nodes and simple cysts were the most frequent imaging features for BI-RADS 2 and ill-defined solid masses and suspicious-looking axillary lymph nodes for BI-RADS 4 and 5.

Highlights

Breast-related diseases have become a topic of focus these days; one of such diseases is breast cancer
Patients included in this study were only females as no male was seen for breast imaging over the study period
A total of 425 patients included in this study came for breast imaging which were used for the BI-RADS categorization

Summary

Introduction

Breast-related diseases have become a topic of focus these days; one of such diseases is breast cancer. The early stages of some of these breast conditions cause some pains whilst others do not. There is the need for a frequent breast examination so as to aid early detection of such conditions, especially the ones that are not painful at the early stages [3]. The BSE is a known technique that an individual uses to examine his/her breast tissues for any change whether palpable or visual. It is often used as an early detection method for breast cancers/tumors [4]. For economic and other reasons, BSE has been very important and accessible technique for people who could not access the clinical breast examination (CBE) which is usually done by the clinicians [6, 7]

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