MAMMOGRAPHIC – SONOGRAPHIC CO-RELATION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST LUMP

This study investigated the sensitivity of adding ultrasound (US) to mammography in the diag- nosis of breast lumps. All women attending Radiology department Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore for mammography during a period of three months from June to August 2008 under- went bilateral mammography followed by whole-breast US and results were documented prospectively and preoperatively and verified by histopathology. Among the total 129 patients screened at our hospital in the three month period 73 patients came with the history of breast lump. US was positive in 69 (94%) and mammography in 67 (93%). But when both the imaging techniques were combined the number of breast lumps detected was 72(98%). So the ultrasound examination detected cancer in three additional women. Adding a screening ultrasound exami- nation to routine mammography reveals more breast cancers were found than mammography alone. The combination of US and mammography is significantly better than either modality used alone, together resulting in 9% more breast cancers detected. High-quality breast ultra- sound after mammography is of great value in diagnostic breast imaging and is being explored for supplemental screening of selected groups of women When ultrasound and mammography are properly correlated, abnormalities noted on screening mammography and even many palpable abnormalities can be dismissed as benign findings after complete work-up. For sus- picious findings that can be seen sonographically, core biopsy under ultrasound guidance is desirable.