Abstract

Background: Benign breast diseases are a common problem presenting in a day to day surgical practice. This study was aimed to know the clinical, radiological and pathological correlation in diagnosing benign breast diseases in women.

Methods: A study of 30 female patients of benign breast disease was conducted by clinical examination, radiological diagnosis and comparing the results with the pathological findings.

Results: The highest incidence of benign breast diseases was in the age group of 30-39 years (33.3%). The most common presenting symptom was lump (53.3%) in the breast. Upper outer quadrant (60%) was most commonly involved. Fibroadenoma (53.3%) was the most common lesion in our study and mostly presented as lump in the breast. The clinical examination in cases of fibroadenoma had sensitivity and specificity of 87.5 % and 92.8% respectively. Radiological examination in cases of fibroadenoma had sensitivity and specificity of 81.2 % and 92.8% respectively.

Conclusions: Overall clinical breast examination had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 98% and overall radiological breast examination had a sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 97.2% in this study. Whereas, the combination of clinical and radiological examination had an overall sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 98%. Hence, combination of all three diagnostic modalities i.e. clinical, radiological and pathological examination should be used.

Key words: Benign breast disease, Clinical and pathological correlation, Radiological and pathological correlation, Fibroadenoma