ULTRASOUND CHARACTERISTICS OF BREAST-CARCINOMA

Recent advances in ultrasound technology, such as the use of high-freq uency linear transducers, color flow Doppler, and computer-enhanced im aging, have improved the diagnostic utility of ultrasound. The followi ng retrospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of sonog raphic signs of malignancy and to compare sonography to mammography in 157 patients with palpable, biopsy-proven breast carcinomas. The mamm ogram reports and sonograms were all reviewed. The grade of each mammo gram was recorded using the American College of Radiology mammogram gr ading scale. All sonograms were reviewed and assigned a score using an adaptation of this scale. Of 157 lesions, 121 were read as suspicious or probable malignancies on mammogram. Thirty-three lesions were read as benign or normal on mammogram. Three patients did not receive mamm ograms. All 157 lesions were read as either suspicious or probably mal ignant on ultrasound. Using the 16 described criteria, high-definition sonography complements mammography and appears to be a sensitive moda lity in the evaluation of palpable biopsy-proven breast malignancies. The diagnostic utility of ultrasound will likely be most important in the evaluation of nonpalpable breast masses; however, a prospective ra ndomized trial will need to be performed.