[Contribution of mammography and echography to the diagnosis of breast cancer in Dakar: apropos of 25 cases]

The authors studied mammographic features of 25 patients with malignant breast disease. 24 of them had ultrasonographic (US) exploration. The study appreciates epidemiological, mammographic and US aspects; It also appreciates the correlation between images and histology. The mean age is 40. Six women (26%) had family history cancer. The mean reason of the exploration is a mass in 76%. At mammography, contours of cancerous opacities are irregular in 56%, regular in 16%. In 20%, the cancer showed no opacity. At US, we find a lack that appears irregular in 48%, regular in 24%, without traduction in 4%, non precised in 24%. Mammography sensitivity was 80%, false negative rate 28% and false positive rate 8% against respectively 96%, 32% et 12% for echography. This study shows that US is more sensitive but less specific than mammography. However, we recommend the use of mammography and echography together because in Senegal, cancer happens at an earlier age at with breast is easier to analyze at US.