Abstract
Background
Women younger than 30 years with a focal breast finding have a low incidence of malignancy. Targeted ultrasound is an accurate primary imaging test.
Materials and methods
All breast ultrasounds performed from July 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 were reviewed. All ultrasounds in patients under 25 years were reviewed with regard to indication, imaging findings, and pathology results.
Results
Over a 3-month period, 855 breast ultrasounds were performed; 4.1 % breast ultrasounds were performed in a patient under 25 years. Twenty patients had imaging features consistent with a fibroadenoma. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of fibroadenomas in 15 of the patients. Five patients did not have biopsies performed due to young age or presence of bilateral fibroadenoma.
Conclusion
A breast nodule in a patient under the age of 25 years with benign clinical findings and imaging features consistent with a fibroadenoma does not require biopsy.
References
Loving VA, DeMartini WB, Eby PR, Gutierrez RL, Peacock S, Lehman CD (2010) Targeted ultrasound in women younger than 30 years with focal breast signs or symptoms: outcomes analyses and management implications. Am J Roentgenol 195(6):1472–1477
Park YM, Kim EK, Lee JH, Ryu JH, Han SS, Choi SJ, Lee SJ, Yoon HK (2008) Palpable breast masses with probably benign morphology at sonography: can biopsy be deferred? Acta Radiol 49(10):1104–1111
Harvey JA, Nicholson BT, Lorusso AP, Cohen MA, Bovbjerg VE (2009) Short-term follow-up of palpable breast lesions with benign imaging features: evaluation of 375 lesions in 320 women. Am J Roentgenol 193(6):1723–1730
Maxwell AJ, Pearson JM (2010) Criteria for the safe avoidance of needle sampling in young women with solid breast masses. Clin Radiol 65(3):218–222
Smith GE, Burrows P (2008) Ultrasound diagnosis of fibroadenoma—is biopsy always necessary? Clin Radiol. 63(5):511–515 (discussion 516–517)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
O’Neill, A.C., Shine, S., Coffey, L. et al. Audit on breast ultrasound in women under 25 years. Ir J Med Sci 182, 287–289 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-012-0877-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-012-0877-7