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 18-75 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. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Italia.