ULTRASOUND EVALUATION OF PALPABLE BREAST LESIONS IN PATIENTS YOUNGER THAN 35 YEARS

Abstract

Objective: 

The purpose of the study was to investigate those women who have palpable breast lesions and are younger than 35 years of age.

Methodology: The study was conducted at the department of diagnostic radiology, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar from February to July 2020, involving female patients under 35 with palpable breast lumps. A thorough history was taken, and a clinical diagnosis was established. Participants with autoimmune diseases and hormonal replacement therapy were excluded. Informed consent was obtained, and an ultrasound was performed with the Toshiba Xario 200 ultrasound machine and all the cases were divided according to the BI-RADS 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 24.

Results: The study involved 122 women with palpable breast lesions, with the majority aged 30-34 years. The mean age was 27.51 years. The study found that the majority of cases (59%) were classified as BI-RADS 1, indicating negative findings. Benign cases were categorized as BI-RADS 2 (23.8%) and BI-RADS 3 (5.7%). Only 2 cases (0.8%) were malignant, with 1 case each in BI-RADS 4 and BI-RADS 5. Biopsy methods used included core needle biopsy (50.8%), surgical excision (29.5%), and needle aspiration biopsy (3.3%).

Conclusion: Ultrasound plays a significant role in the early identification of carcinoma of the breast and other breast diseases in young women under 35 with palpable breast masses, particularly in developing nations with inadequate mass screening programs. The incidence of breast cancer in women under 30 was extremely low, at 0.8%, in our study. Ultrasound proved to be a highly sensitive tool for evaluating palpable breast lesions in young women.