Diagnostic Accuracy of Doppler Ultrasound in the Detection of Malignant Breast Lesions and Differentiating Them from Benign Breast Masses Taking Histopathology as Gold Standard
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i5.2614Keywords:
Breast Neoplasms, Diagnostic Imaging, Histopathology, Ultrasonography.Abstract
Background: Breast cancer constitutes one of the main sources of morbidity and mortality in women across the globe. For increased rates of survival, it is imperative that diagnosis is carried out early and accurately. While it is true that a biopsy is considered imperative in determining malignancy, it is also true that non-invasive diagnostic techniques have played a crucial role in its diagnosis. Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of Doppler ultrasound in detecting malignant breast lesions using histopathology as the gold standard. Study Design: Cross Sectional validation study. Duration and Place of Study: This study was conducted from September 2024 to February 2025 in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Ali Fatima Hospital, Lahore. Methodology: A total of 154 female patients aged 30–60 years presenting with palpable solid breast lumps were included. Doppler ultrasound was performed by an experienced radiologist to evaluate internal vascularity and vessel patterns. Lesions showing multiple central or penetrating vessels were classified as malignant. Histopathological examination of tru-cut biopsy specimens served as the reference standard. Results: The mean age of participants was 43.95 years. Doppler ultrasound demonstrated sensitivity of 84.20%, specificity of 62.50%, positive predictive value of 86.50%, negative predictive value of 58.10%, and overall diagnostic accuracy of 78.60% (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Doppler ultrasound is a reliable and cost-effective imaging tool for detecting malignant breast lesions. It shows good sensitivity for identifying tumor vascularity and can assist in differentiating malignant from benign breast masses.
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