The predictive value of digital mammography, breast ultrasound and their combination in the diagnosis of early breast cancer

Abstract

Aim. To assess the predictive value of digital mammography, breast ultrasound and a combination of these methods in the diagnosis of early breast cancer - BC (carcinomas in situ and invasive tumors up to 1.0 cm in size). Outcomes and methods. We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 110 patients of the FSBI “N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology» of the Ministry of Health of Russia Federation who were examined and treated for early BC (ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ, and invasive breast cancer no larger than 1.0 cm in size without regional or systemic tumor spreading). All patients were examined using digital mammography across two projections, with targeted magnification if it was necessary, as well as breast ultrasound with B-mode, Doppler ultrasound and elastography. We analyzed a frequency of establishing various BI-RADS categories according to data of mammography and breast ultrasound. We also assessed breast tissue density, a presence of nodules and calcifications and their radiological characteristics, as well as a frequency of false-negative results of mammography and breast ultrasound, their radiological characteristics, and causes of obtaining the false-negative results. According to the data of mammography and breast ultrasound, the study group was divided into 2 subgroups: patients who were diagnosed with BC (BI-RADS 5) and patients with changes in the breast which were not clearly interpreted as malignant (BI-RADS 0-4). Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS 20.0 program; differences were considered statistically significant with p