Diagnostic Accuracy of Sonographic Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System Classification in Distinguishing Benign From Malignant Masses

Abstract

Objective: To establish diagnostic accuracy of sonographic Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System classification in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions keeping histopathology as gold standard. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study:  Department of Radiology, Combined Military Hospital Lahore over a period of six months from 12^th February 2009 to 11^th August 2009. Material and Methods: We analyzed 150 patients presenting in OPD with breast lump. All the patients underwent ultrasound evaluation and histopathological assessment via FNAC or biopsy. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of ultrasound findings andhistopathological results were calculated keeping histopathology as gold standard. Results: The Sonographic BI–RADS Lexicon is based on six categories. Categories 2, 3, 4 and 5 were included in this study. Out of 150 patients using BI-RADS system 82 were category 2, 38 patients were category 3, 18 patients were category 4 and 12 patients were category 5. Sonographic BI- RADS Lexicon showed sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 99 %, PPV of 96 % and NPV of   95 %. Conclusion: Sonographic BI- RADS Lexicon is an accurate and cost effective system for characterization of breast lesions.