This study was performed to determine the value of ultrasonography in the differentiation between benign and malignant breast masses. The results were compared with data in the literature.

We examined 52 women patients with breast disease using ultrasonography. The cystic lesions were excluded from analysis. The solid lesions were characterised as benign or malignant on the basis of their sonographic appearances. Histopathology was obtained in all cases. Of 52 women patients studied with ultrasonography when appropriate, 27 (52 %) was diagnosed with probable benign lesions, and 25 (48 %) malignant lesions. It was determined that the histopathological diagnosis was benign in 31 (60 %) cases and malignant 21 (40 %) cases. Ultrasonography had an overall sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 87%, positive predictive value of 76%, negative predictive value of 93%, and accuracy of 85%.

We concluded that ultrasonography helped to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses.