Ultrasound monitoring can avoid biopsies

STEYR, Austria, June 27 (UPI) -- Austrian researchers say breast masses detected by ultrasound and diagnosed as "probably benign" can be managed with imaging, rather than biopsy.

The study, published in the July issue of Radiology, found follow-up with ultrasound is a safe alternative to biopsy in cases where the breast lesion is classified as probably benign.

The researchers retrospectively studied 409 women with 448 non-palpable masses that were partially or completely obscured at mammography by dense breast tissue and were classified as probably benign using ultrasound. After initial imaging with mammography and ultrasound, follow-up was performed in 445 masses.

At follow-up every six months over two to five years, 442 of the 445 masses remained stable. Two masses increased but were found benign at biopsy, and one mass became palpable -- cancer was diagnosed at biopsy.

The findings indicate an overall negative predictive value of 99.8 percent -- or one in 445 masses, according to the study.

"These findings indicate that ultrasound follow-up can spare women from unnecessary, invasive biopsies," said Dr. Oswald Graf, of the Ambulatory Care Center in Steyr, Austria.