Diagnostic Yield of High- Resolution Breast Sonography in Detecting Microcalcifications Compared to Mammography

Mammography remains the most suitable screening test in detectingmicrocalcifications as the earliest manifestation of breast malignancy. by means of highfrequencytransducers yielding high-resolution breast imaging, some researchers have reportedthat ultrasonography is capable of depicting microcalcifications in the breast tissue.therefore, this study has been designed to compare the diagnostic yield of high-resolutionbreast ultrasonography (hrs) versus conventional mammography.patients and methods: seventy-four consecutive patients who had breast microcalcifications(hyperdense foci < 0.5mm) according to standard mammograms, without a prior history ofbreast disease, surgery, biopsy, chest wall radiation or systemic chemotherapy were enrolled.considering mammograms as a reference, 46 patients without a mass, voluntarily underwenthigh-resolution bilateral breast ultrasonography.results: the mean age was 50.7±10 years (range, 35-85 years). the upper outer quadrant ofthe breast was the commonest place where microcalcifications were detected (36.9%). arelative frequency of 45.7% was reported for microcalcifications with breast imaging reportingand data system (birads) score 3. an overall 82.6% diagnostic yield was discovered forhrs in detecting microcalcifications; it detected all microcalcifications with birads score 4and 5, but 57.1% and 90.5% of microcalcifications with birads score 2 and 3, respectively.cluster microcalcification was the most common pattern (43.5%).conclusion: considering the 82.6% diagnostic yield of hrs compared to mammography, it canbe proposed as the surrogate modality in locating microcalcifications in procedures such asbiopsies and hook-wiring, with the advantage of reducing radiation exposure. hrs may be thefuture screening modality as a result of feasibility, safety, compliance and accuracy.