Ultrasound Accurately Classifies Breast Masses in Girls.

WASHINGTON -- Ultrasound assessment correctly classifies more than 90% of palpable breast masses in girls as normal tissue, cysts, abscesses, or solid masses, Kyung-Hwa Rhee reported at the annual meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society.

Since ultrasound is so accurate in assessing breast masses in the pediatric population and since virtually all such masses are benign, clinicians can safely reduce the excessive number of breast biopsies currently done in girls, said Ms. Rhee of the department of radiology at Washington University in St. Louis.

She reviewed the sonograms and medical records of 170 girls aged 9 months to 18 years (average age 14.6 years) who were referred for assessment of palpable breast masses.

The majority of these patients (113) had no abnormality at all, just normal breast buds or breast parenchyma.

Of the masses found in the remaining 57 girls, 52 (91%) were correctly classified by ultrasound. There were 36 fibroadenomas, 12 cysts, 7 abscesses, 1 lactating adenoma, and 1 phylloides tumor.

Homogeneously hypoechoic solid masses with thin or imperceptible walls were identified in 39 patients and biopsied. One proved to be a lactating adenoma and the rest were fibroadenomas.

No malignancies were found in this study, Ms. Rhee noted. Of the five lesions not correctly diagnosed by ultrasound, four were fibroadenomas and one was an abscess.

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Author:	MOON, MARY ANN
Publication:	OB GYN News
Date:	Aug 1, 2000
Words:	218
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