An assessment of ultrasound mammography as an additional investigation for the diagnosis of breast disease.

X-ray mammography was performed on 446 patients with suspected breast disease and 23 breast carcinomas were detected of 26 (sensitivity: 88.5%) that were ultimately diagnosed in the 12-24 months' period following examination. Ultrasound mammography was used as an additional procedure in 183 patients because the radiographic findings were considered to be indeterminate and it detected an additional two carcinomas, to give an overall sensitivity of 96%. X-ray mammography identified 40 benign lesions and subsequent ultrasound mammography characterised 38 of these as being either cystic or solid. Ultrasound also detected an additional 32 benign lesions (28 cysts and 4 fibroadenomas) which had not been evident on X-ray mammography. It is concluded that ultrasound mammography is a useful complementary procedure for those patients who have radiodense breasts or indeterminate radiographic findings on X-ray mammography.