The preoperative size measurement of breast cancer by ultrasonography and mammography

Objective To comparatively analyze the preoperative value of the size of primary breast cancer presenting as a mass by ultrasonography and by mammography. Methods The tumor size data obtained preoperatively by mammography and by ultrasonography were retrospectively analyzed in all the patients pathologically diagnosed with primary breast cancer in our hospital from July 2006 to July 2009. The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the size of tumors between with pathological method and with each of the imaging modalities. Results A total of 57 patients with breast cancers took both of imaging modalities including 51 cases of infiltrating ductal cancer,4 cases of infiltrating lobular cancer,and 2 of ductal carcinoma in situ. The ranges of the maximum diameter of tumor was 0.6-11.8 cm and mean value was (2.3±2.1) cm by pathological examination,0.6-12.6 cm and mean value was (3.4±2.9)cm by mammography and 0.7-10.2 cm and mean value was (2.4±1.8)cm by ultrasonography,respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient in the accuracy of imaging assessments was superior to those by ultrasonography (r=0.744,P0.05) than those by mammography (r=0.544,P0.05). Conclusion Ultrasonography is more accurate than mammography for size assessment of primary breast cancer.