Radiology, Vol 185, 87-90, Copyright © 1992 by Radiological Society of North America
Efficacy of spot compression-magnification and tangential views in mammographic evaluation of palpable breast masses
RM Faulk and EA Sickles
Department of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-1045.
To define the role of special mammographic views in evaluating palpable
breast masses, 70 consecutive women with palpable breast masses underwent
standard two-view examination of each breast and spot
compression-magnification and tangential view examination of the palpable
mass. Thirty palpable masses were found in 30 patients (43%). Standard
views depicted 26 masses (87%). Tangential views also depicted 26 masses.
Some of the masses seen on tangential views were not seen on standard views
and vice versa. Spot compression-magnification views depicted 29 masses
(97%). Special views thus depicted an additional 9% of palpable masses not
seen on standard views (four of 44 cases). All lesions not seen on
tangential views were central; the one lesion not seen on spot
compression-magnification views was peripheral. Special views allowed
correct prediction of benign or malignant status in 77% of cases (23 of
30), while standard views allowed correct prediction in 69% of cases (18 of
26).
