Minimal cancer, defined by the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project, includes tumors up to 1 cm in size. The detection of these malignancies by either mammography or ultrasound has great prognostic importance because axillary lymph node involvement correlates directly with tumor size. Although ultrasound is a complimentary technique to mammography, tumors can be detected sonographically when mammography is negative. Additionally, cancers may be seen sonographically in instances where only subtle architectural distortion is seen mammographically. In younger women, who have denser breasts, ultrasound is often the primary diagnostic modality used to work-up a palpable mass.
1. Moskowitz M. Predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity: applied epidemiology for the practicing radiologist, in Moskowitz M (ed). Diagnostic Categorical Course in Breast Imaging. Oak Brook, IL: RSNA1986:49-49.
2.
2. Jackson VP. The role of US in breast imaging. Radiolog, 1990; 1 77:305-309.
3.
3. Adler DD, Hyde DL, Ikeda DM. Quantitative sonographic parameters as a means of distinguishing breast cancers from benign solid breast masses. J Ultrasoundi Med1991; 10:505-508.
4.
4. Stravros AT, Parker SH, Dennis MA, et al. US of probably malignant and atypical solid breast nodules. Radiologk1993; 189:179-179.
5.
5. Stavros AT, Parker SH, Dennis MA, et al. US of probably benign solid breast nodules. Radiology1993; 189:179-179.
6.
6. Taylor KJW. Can complementary US reduce the number of biopsies of benign breast masses?Radiology1993; 189:179-179.
7.
7. Fornage BD, Faroux MJ, Simatos A. Breast masses: USguided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Radiology1987;162: 409-414.
8.
8. Parker SH, Jobe WE, Dennis MA, et al. US-guided automated large-core breast biopsy. Radiology1993; 187: 507-511.
9.
9. Cole-Beuglet C, Soriano RZ, Kurtz AB, Goldberg BB. Ul- trasound analysis of 104 primary breast carcinomas classified according to histopathologic type. Radiology1983; 147:191-196.
10.
10. Kobayashi T. Ultrasonic detection of breast cancer. C'lin Obstet Gynecol1982;25:409-423.
11.
11. Fornage BD, Sneige N, Faroux MJ, Andry E. Sonographic appearance and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of breast carcinomas smaller than l cm3. J Ultrasound Med1990;9:559-568.
12.
12. Jackson VP, Rothschild PA, Kreipke DL, Mail J F, Holden RW. Vhe spectrum of sonographic findings of fibroadenoma of the breast. Invest Radiol1986;21:34-40.
13.
13. Peters ME. Uncommon malignancies of the breast, in Peters ME, Voegeli DR, Scanlan KA (eds): Breast Imaging. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1989;219-240.
