Detection of breast carcinoma: comparison of automated water-path whole-breast sonography, mammography, and physical examination.

A comparative study of independently conducted physical examination, x-ray mammography, and sonography of the breast was carried out on 786 women having 77 excisional biopsies with 31 proven breast carcinomas. On breast sonography, 68% of the carcinomas were demonstrated with three false-positive diagnoses, compared with 65% cancer detection rate on physical examination with 37 false positives, and 77% detection rate on mammography with 15 false positives. Sonography was considered complementary to the other methods and of distinct usefulness after mammography (1) to examine the dense breast; (2) to study dense, poorly demonstrated areas; (3) to differentiate cystic from solid masses; and (4) to study breasts with augmentation mammoplasties. There were no added benefits in mammographically normal fatty breasts. The procedure was readily accepted by both women and their referring physicians.