Mammography and Ultrasonography Reports Compared with Tissue Diagnosis - An Evidence Based Study in Iran, 2010

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and the fifth cause of cancer death in Iranian women.Early detection and treatment are important for appropriate management of this disease. Mammography andultrasonography are used for screening and evaluation of symptomatic cases and the main diagnostic test forbreast cancer is pathological. In this study we evaluated mammography and ultrasonography as diagnostic tools.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study 384 mammography and ultrasonography reports for 255 women wereassessed, divided into benign and malignant groups. Suspected cases were referred for pathology evaluation.The radiologic and pathologic reports were compared and also comparison was performed based on age groups(more and less than 50 years old), history of breastfeeding and gravidity. Statistical analysis was performedby SPSS.
Results: The mean ages of malignant and benign cases were 49±11.6 and 43±11.2 years, respectively.Sensitivity and specificity for mammography were 73% and 45%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity forultrasonography were 69% and 49%, respectively. There were statistical differences between specificity ofmammography in patients based on factors such as history of gravidity, breastfeeding and sensitivity in patientsequal or more than 50 years old and less.
Conclusion: Factors affecting different results in mammography andultrasonography reports were classified into three groups, consisting of skill, experience and training of medicalstaff, and setting of instruments. It is recommended that health managers in developing countries pay attentionthe quality of setting and man power more than current status. Policy-makers and managers must establishguidelines regarding breast imaging in Iran.