Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to calculate the breast cancer detection rate in patients who have nonspecific complaints and younger than 40 years old in an opportunistic screening population.

METHODS

A total of 4112 breast ultrasonographies were performed as an initial imaging modality in women between 18 to 39 years old who applied to Ankara Güven Hospital Breast Unit during November 2011 and April 2015. 3403 (82.8%) cases were included for further examination. Routine breast examinations of these women were done and ultrasonography was performed as the initial imaging procedure. Patients who have lesions that need biopsy had mammography and some of them magnetic resonance ımagıng before the biopsy procedure and than core needle biopsy with ultrasonography guidance was performed in all of the cases.

RESULTS

Ultrasonography demonstrated 292 (8.6%) suspicious lesions for further evaluation. After the radiological evaluation was done, core needle biopsy was performed in 62 (1.8%) of these cases and breast cancer was diagnosed in 14 of them (0.4%).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

In our study, the ultrasonography was used first for breast cancer diagnosis in women under the age of 40 who did not have any complaint or applied for control due to breast cancer fear. İn Turkey, which has a high young population and therefore faced with breast cancers under the age of 40, the breast ultarsonography has a great role primarily for catching breast cancers in this age group at an early stage.