Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 7, Issue 5 261-263, Copyright © 1988 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Ultrasound for guidance of breast mass removal
M. D. Rifkin, G. F. Schwartz, M. E. Pasto, M. Vilaro, L. Needleman, A. B. Kurtz, D. G. Mitchell, R. Pennell, O. H. Baltarowich and B. B. Goldberg
Department of Radiology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Hand-held sonomammography was used intraoperatively to localize 52 masses
in 45 women in an out patient operating suite. All but five women had a
positive X-ray mammogram. The ultrasound mammogram was able to identify all
lesions. In 42 women studied by a preoperative ultrasound examination
before the operating room procedure, all the masses were successfully
identified. Precise localization was successfully performed in the
operating room before sterile preparation in less than 10 minutes.
Relocalization after incision in the sterile operating field was necessary
in two cases. This technique requires no ionizing radiation and expedites
outpatient surgical removal of the lesion. Of the 52 masses, there were 32
fibroadenomas, three carcinomas, three cysts, six cases of focal fibrous
mastitis, and eight patients with focal fibrocystic disease. In patients
with positive sonograms for nonpalpable masses, ultrasound localization is
a fast, accurate alternative to X-ray needle placement.
