TRIPLE ASSESSMENT

EFFICACY IN DIAGNOSIS OF MALIGNANT BREAST LUMP

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of triple assessment in diagnosis of malignant breast lumps in female patients taking core
biopsy as a gold standard. Setting: Breast Clinic, Unit-III, Department of Surgery, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Period: October 2007 to March
2008. Material & Methods: A total 0f 100 patients of breast lump, above the age of 14 years, having palpable lump of any size in breast were
selected according to inclusion criteria. Results: Out of 100 patients included in the study most of the patients were in the age group 45-54
years i.e. 46 (46%) followed by 32 (32%) in the age group 35-44 years. According to occupation 67 (67%) were house wives, 13 (13%) were
teachers and 5 (5%) were nurses. In 48 (48%) patients the lump size was 2 cm, 35 (35%) patients had lump size from, 2-4 cm while in 17 (17%)
patients lump size was > 4 cm. Presenting symptoms like lump was present in 50 (50%) patients, pain alone 25(25%) patients, discharge in 20
(20%) patients and discharge with pain in 5 (5%). Lymph node status like grade-0 was seen in 60 (60%) patients, grade-1 in 21 (21%) patients,
grade-2 in 15 (15%) patients and grade-3 in 4 (4%) patients. Conclusions: Triple assessment is a valuable tool for an accurate non surgical
diagnosis of breast lump, allows assessment of breast cancer patient for conservative and neo-adjuvant primary treatment before surgical
treatment.