Role of grey scale ultrasound in benign and malignant breast lesions

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in diagnosis of benign and malignant disease in correlation with histopathological findings. Patients and Methods: Adult female patients presenting with breast lump were included. Grey-scale ultrasound was done with high frequency probe. Findings were compared with histopathology. The sensitivity and specificity was determined. Results: Eighty-five female patients with positive clinical findings were differentiated into benign (n =45, 52.9%), intermediate (n =15, 17.6%) and malignant (n =25, 29.4%), by ultrasound examination. Only one (2.2%) benign lesion was found malignant on histopathology, 8 (32%) cases of malignant group were benign on histopathology. The sensitivity of ultrasound for malignant lesion was 95.24% and specificity was 68.75% for a benign lesion. Our results were compatible with international studies. Conclusion: Ultrasound of breast is very useful in evaluating breast lumps. This modality is, however, not a good screening tool. When combined with clinical evaluation and mammographic studies, a subset of patients can be identified which do not require biopsy. This will not only save the cost but will also alley the anxiety of patients. (author)