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The Use of Sonography and Mammography in the Evaluation of Eritrean Women with Breast Pain.
Abstract
Objective: To assess the outcome of sonography and mammography in Eritrean women with breast pain in order
to give background information for setting a standard practice of evaluation.
Methods: All women with diffuse or focal breast pain referred to the departments of radiology of Orotta national referral hospital and Selam poly clinic between Jan., 2005 and Dec, 2007 were included. Patients with pain and associated palpable abnormality are excluded from the study. All patients underwent sonography and mammography. Finally, a review of all the pathology reports for breast cytology studies or biopsies was done to identify any interval cancer or false interpretations of the imaging of the subjects.
Results: 470 patients underwent breast imaging during the study period. Pain alone was mentioned as reason for referral in 105 cases (22%). The mean age at presentation was 32.23. 47 (44.8%) were below the age of 30 year. 16 (15.2%) had family history of breast cancer and 11 (10.5%) had history of hormone use at the time of examinations. The pain was unilateral in 76 patients (72.4%). Most (53.3%) of the referrals were made by surgeons. FNA findings showed that 13 patients (52%) have benign mastopathy, 3 (12%) fibro adenoma, 2(8%) benign fibro epithelial alterations and the rest 6 different cytologic diagnosis, including mastitis ,tuberculous lymphadenitis, and non
specific inflammatory changes. FNA cytology examination was suspicious for cancer in one patient but this was not histologically confirmed as the patient was lost to follow up. The negative predictive value for mammography and sonography was 95.7%.
Conclusion: The primary use of sonography and mammography in women with breast pain is reassuring to the patients and to the treating clinician.
to give background information for setting a standard practice of evaluation.
Methods: All women with diffuse or focal breast pain referred to the departments of radiology of Orotta national referral hospital and Selam poly clinic between Jan., 2005 and Dec, 2007 were included. Patients with pain and associated palpable abnormality are excluded from the study. All patients underwent sonography and mammography. Finally, a review of all the pathology reports for breast cytology studies or biopsies was done to identify any interval cancer or false interpretations of the imaging of the subjects.
Results: 470 patients underwent breast imaging during the study period. Pain alone was mentioned as reason for referral in 105 cases (22%). The mean age at presentation was 32.23. 47 (44.8%) were below the age of 30 year. 16 (15.2%) had family history of breast cancer and 11 (10.5%) had history of hormone use at the time of examinations. The pain was unilateral in 76 patients (72.4%). Most (53.3%) of the referrals were made by surgeons. FNA findings showed that 13 patients (52%) have benign mastopathy, 3 (12%) fibro adenoma, 2(8%) benign fibro epithelial alterations and the rest 6 different cytologic diagnosis, including mastitis ,tuberculous lymphadenitis, and non
specific inflammatory changes. FNA cytology examination was suspicious for cancer in one patient but this was not histologically confirmed as the patient was lost to follow up. The negative predictive value for mammography and sonography was 95.7%.
Conclusion: The primary use of sonography and mammography in women with breast pain is reassuring to the patients and to the treating clinician.
