ORIGINAL: Diagnostic Accuracy of Mammographic Findings in Patients 35 Years and Older Presenting with Palpable Breast Lump in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City

West Afr J Med. 2024 May; 41 (5): 548-554 PMID: 39207921

Abstract

Background: Mammography has become an invaluable tool for diagnosing breast lesions and detecting early breast cancer in women of 35 years and above.

Aims: To correlate the mammography Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) categories with the histology in breast lesions and to determine the predictive values, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of mammography.

Patients and method: This was a one- year prospective study carried out from March 2015 to February 2016. Consecutive female patients of 35 years and above with breast lesions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City were recruited. Patients with fungating breast lesions and those who declined recruitment were excluded. All patients had mammography and core biopsy of the breast lesion which was examined histologically.

Results: A total of 101 patients were studied. Five patients had bilateral breast lesions making a total of 106 biopsies that were performed. The mean age of patients with benign breast disease was 47.0 ± 4.9 years while those with malignant breast disease was 49.9 ± 8.5 years; P-value was 0.080 which was not statistically significant. Fibrocystic disease 6 (5.6%) was the most common benign disease while invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common malignant breast disease 84(79.2%). BI-RADS 5 correlated mostly with malignant breast disease (97.0%); P value < 0.001 and was statistically significant.

Conclusion: This study showed that mammography is useful in the diagnosis of breast lesions in women who are 35 years and older. Patients with BI-RADS category 3, 4 and 5 had an increasing correlation with malignant breast disease.