[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of breast diseases: a review of diagnostic criteria of sonomammography on a real-time scanner].

Fifteen sonomammographic findings of 341 histologically proved breast masses were reviewed to improve and objectify the current diagnostic criteria of sonomammography enacted by the Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine. The author suggested revised diagnostic criteria and a method of evaluating benign or malignant breast masses on a real time scanner, especially an electronic linear scanner, and presented an original diagnostic concept based particularly on shape and internal echo. By examining sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, shape, border and internal echo were set up as major criteria, while boundary echo, posterior echo, DW ratio, transverse direction, anterior borderline and posterior borderline were set up as minor criteria. If two or more major criteria or one major and two or more minor criteria are found, the breast mass is diagnosed as malignant, whereas if one major and one or no minor criteria, or only three or fewer minor criteria are recognized, the mass is diagnosed as benign. This diagnostic approach demonstrated a sensitivity of 93.2%, specificity of 85.9%, and accuracy of 89.7%, which were superior to current diagnostic criteria for the differential diagnosis of breast masses.