Prediction of breast tumor size by mammography and sonography—A breast screen experience

Concise preoperative assessment of breast Tumor size is important when considering surgical approach and the staging of breast cancer. A retrospective study of 400 uni-focal, invasive ductal carcinomas compared the accuracy of sonographic and mammographic measuring modalities with histological size. Sub-groups for tumor size, type and grade, with other variables, were also considered in intra-modal correlations of lesion dimension. Mammography (R2=0.74), although slightly over estimating tumor size, appeared to be more useful than sonography (R2=0.60) following logistical analysis of the data. Correlational significance for both imaging modalities decreased for tumors larger than 20 mm. Sonography under estimated lesions in over 50% of cases; the average underestimate being 9.9 mm, and ranging from 1 mm to 30 mm. Consideration of both imaging measurements in cohort should improve the accuracy of radiological reporting of pre-surgical tumor size.