Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Audit on breast ultrasound in women under 25 years

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Women younger than 30 years with a focal breast finding have a low incidence of malignancy. Targeted ultrasound is an accurate primary imaging test.

Materials and methods

All breast ultrasounds performed from July 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 were reviewed. All ultrasounds in patients under 25 years were reviewed with regard to indication, imaging findings, and pathology results.

Results

Over a 3-month period, 855 breast ultrasounds were performed; 4.1 % breast ultrasounds were performed in a patient under 25 years. Twenty patients had imaging features consistent with a fibroadenoma. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of fibroadenomas in 15 of the patients. Five patients did not have biopsies performed due to young age or presence of bilateral fibroadenoma.

Conclusion

A breast nodule in a patient under the age of 25 years with benign clinical findings and imaging features consistent with a fibroadenoma does not require biopsy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Loving VA, DeMartini WB, Eby PR, Gutierrez RL, Peacock S, Lehman CD (2010) Targeted ultrasound in women younger than 30 years with focal breast signs or symptoms: outcomes analyses and management implications. Am J Roentgenol 195(6):1472–1477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Park YM, Kim EK, Lee JH, Ryu JH, Han SS, Choi SJ, Lee SJ, Yoon HK (2008) Palpable breast masses with probably benign morphology at sonography: can biopsy be deferred? Acta Radiol 49(10):1104–1111

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Harvey JA, Nicholson BT, Lorusso AP, Cohen MA, Bovbjerg VE (2009) Short-term follow-up of palpable breast lesions with benign imaging features: evaluation of 375 lesions in 320 women. Am J Roentgenol 193(6):1723–1730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Maxwell AJ, Pearson JM (2010) Criteria for the safe avoidance of needle sampling in young women with solid breast masses. Clin Radiol 65(3):218–222

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Smith GE, Burrows P (2008) Ultrasound diagnosis of fibroadenoma—is biopsy always necessary? Clin Radiol. 63(5):511–515 (discussion 516–517)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Breast Radiology, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland

    A. C. O’Neill, S. Shine, L. Coffey, S. Pender, A. O’Doherty & S. McNally

Authors
  1. A. C. O’Neill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Shine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Coffey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Pender
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. O’Doherty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. McNally
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. C. O’Neill.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

O’Neill, A.C., Shine, S., Coffey, L. et al. Audit on breast ultrasound in women under 25 years. Ir J Med Sci 182, 287–289 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-012-0877-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-012-0877-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation