CORRELATION OF MAMMOGRAPHIC AND SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF PALPABLE BREAST MASSES: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of mammography and ultrasonography (USG) in evaluating palpable breast masses, comparing their sensitivity and specicity with ne needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as the reference standard. This prospective study was conducted at SSIMS & RC, Davangere from Methods: February 2024 to June 2025. Inputs were received from Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College and Research Institution, Bangalore. A total of 110 women aged 40 years and older with palpable breast masses were included. Patients with prior breast surgery, pregnancy, or non-palpable lesions were excluded. Mammography and USG were performed, and ndings were categorized using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). FNAC conrmed diagnoses. Sensitivity, specicity, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated, and statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests. Results: Of 110 patients, 42% had benign lesions, 11% had malignant lesions, and 47% had normal ndings or duct ectasia. Mammography showed a sensitivity of 83.3% and specicity of 91.8%, while USG had a sensitivity of 91.7% and specicity of 93.9%. USG was superior in detecting cysts (p=0.02). Malignant lesions were associated with ill-dened margins (p<0.01) and calcications (p=0.03) on mammography. USG demonstrated higher sensitivity and specicity than mammography for palpable breast Conclusion: masses, particularly for cystic lesions. Combining both modalities enhances diagnostic accuracy, supporting their complementary use in clinical practice.