Role of Ultrasonography in the Differential Diagnosis of Palpable Breast Lump

One hundred cases of palpable breast masses were examined by ultrasonography (USG) and diagnosis confirmed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and histopathology The ultrasound detected the presence of breast masses in 86 cases. False negative results were noted in 28% of cases. There were 44 solid and 42 cystic masses. The maximum number of benign lesions were present in the age group of 21-30 years and malignant lesions were maximally within the age group of 41-50 years. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in carcinoma of the breast was 57.14% whereas that for fibroadenoma it was as high as 81.81%. For cystic masses the USG had a higher accuracy rate of 90.90%. The sensitivity of ultrasound on all breast masses was 86%.