[Improvement of preoperative evaluation of palpable, noncystic processes of the breast by echomammography].

Sonographic examination of the female breast has now been generally accepted as a clinical examination method. 1 719 patients were subjected to echomammography within the framework of a prospective study. Histologically confirmed results were obtained from 496 palpable findings. Basing on these findings, the value of echomammography was developed in respect of preoperative clarification of palpable carcinomas of the breast. X-ray mammography served as reference method. In benign findings, echomammographic accuracy is 73%, whereas the accuracy of x-ray mammography was found to be 58% only. Fibroadenomas were recognised as a benign process by both methods with an equal quota of accuracy (71% and 73%, respectively). 82% of all fibrocystic mastopathy findings which could be localised via palpation, were sonographically graded as benign, whereas mammography classified only 49% as benign cases. This difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Palpable carcinomas wee considered to be malignant via sonography in 91% of the cases (179 out of 197), whereas x-ray mammography yielded a rate of 82% only. The intraoperative T1 stage was established by sonography in 85% of the palpable carcinomas, whereas x-ray mammography yielded a figure of 76% only. These results underline the importance of echomammography in preoperative clarification of palpable carcinomas of the breast.