EFFICACY OF MAMMOGRAPHY IN PALBABLE BREAST ABNORMALITIES IN TELANGANA REGION

Abstract

To evaluate the role of mammographic imaging in patients with palpable abnormalities of the breast in Telangana region. Materials and Methods: Over a period of 3 years, 50 patients aged 30 or above with palpable abnormalities of breast underwent combined mammographic evaluation. Results: 30 (60%) of the 50 palpable abnormalities had benign assessment, 18(60%) ofthe benign
lesions were visible on mammography, 11 (36%) of the 20 benign lesions were mammographically identified at mammography evaluation.1 lesion was occult (4%) and visualized on mammography. In 10(20%) of the 50 cases, imaging evaluation resulted in a suspicious assessment and all these lesions underwent biopsy and 7 were diagnosed as having malignancy. 10(20%) of the 50 palpable
abnormalities had negative imaging assessment finding: of these 5 patients underwent biopsy and all had benign findings. The sensitivity and negative predictive value for combined mammographic and mammography assessment were 100%; the specificity was 90.91%. Conclusion: Cancer was diagnosed in 7 of the 50 women who underwent combined imaging for palpable abnormalities of the breast. Combined mammographic and mammography assessment was shown to be very helpful in identifying benign as well as malignant lesions causing palpable abnormalities of the breast.