Differential diagnosis between fibroadenoma, giant fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumour: sonographic features and core needle biopsy

Purpose

The aim of this study was to analyse mammographic and ultrasound (US) features of fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumour and assess the diagnostic accuracy of mammography, US and US-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) in the differential diagnosis of these two lesions.

Materials and methods

The results of the pathological analysis of excision biopsy of 83 lesions (67 fibroadenomas and 16 phyllodes tumours) were correlated with the findings of mammography, US and US-guided CNB performed on 83 women with a mean age of 45.4 years (range 18?C75 years).

Results

Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values compared with histology were 45%, 50% and 79% for mammography, 34%, 69% and 82% for US and 81%, 97% and 87% for US-guided CNB (p=0.001).

Conclusions

The almost complete overlap between mammographic and US parameters of fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumours and the absence of pathognomonic features preclude the differential diagnosis between the two histological types. US-guided CNB is a valuable tool in the differential diagnosis between fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumour.