Usefulness of technetium-99m tetrofosmin mammoscintigraphy as compared to mammography for detecting and differentiating palpable breast masses of young Taiwanese women.

Sixty young Taiwanese women with palpable breast masses detected by mammography and/or physical examinations underwent technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-TETRO) mammoscintigraphy to assess its value for detecting and differentiating breast masses. The results showed that 42 of the 45 cases of breast carcinoma were detected by Tc-TETRO mammoscintigraphy. Fourteen of the 15 o benign breast lesions were differentiated by Tc-TETRO mammoscintigraphy. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value negative predictive value and accuracy of Tc-TETRO mammoscintigraphy were 93% 93% 98% 82% and 93% respectively. Thirty-eight of the 45 cases of breast carcinoma were detected by mammography. Twelve of the 15 of benign breast lesions were differentiated by mammography. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of mammography were 84% 80% 93% 63% and 83% respectively. We concluded that Tc-TETRO mammoscintigraphy when compared to mammography significantly improves the accuracy of detection and differentiation of breast cancer in Taiwanese women.