Scientific Research and Essays Vol. 2 (8), 325-329, August 2007          
ISSN 1992-2248 © 2007 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Appraisal of mammography in Nigerian women in a new teaching hospital

Akinola, R. A.¹*, Akinola, O. I.², Shittu L. A. J.³, Balogun, B. O.¹, Tayo, A. O.²

¹Department of Radiology, Lagos State University College of Medicine/ Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University College of Medicine/ Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

³Department of Anatomy, Lagos state University, College of medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: adeyanjuakinola@yahoo.com

Accepted 27 June, 2007

The advent of newer imaging techniques has necessitated the need for us to evaluate the distribution pattern of common and significant imaging findings on mammography at the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital. A retrospective study on all the 300 patients referred to the radiology department of LASUTH from August 2003 to August 2006 for mammography was carried out and the imaging findings were recorded using the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRAD) classification method to assess mammographic density. However, ultrasound scans were done in patients less than 35 years of age who had a mass. The mammography images result revealed that majority of the breasts, about 39 (13%) were mainly fatty, 11 (3.7 %) were glandular, whereas, 3 (1%) were mainly fibrous. However, 149 (49.7%) were mixed (fibro-fatty) and 98 (32.7%) dense in nature. Using the BIRAD classification, 41 (13.7 %) patients were classified as Birad 1 whereas the majority of the cases seen, 154 (51.3 %) were classified as Birad 2, while 57 (19%) and 48 (16%) were categorized into Birad 3 and 4, respectively. However, mammographic findings were normal in 164 (54.7%) patients seen. Various types of calcifications were seen in 87 (29%) of patients. Of these, 22 (7.3 %) were microcalcifications. However, two of the confirmed malignant masses had microcalcifications and dilated ducts were seen in 3 (1%) patients. The nipple was tethered and inverted in 3 (1%) patients, skin thickening was seen in 3 (1%) patients, widened subcutaneous tissue in 3 (1%), scar in 2 (%). One (0.3%) patient had postsurgical clips, while skin fold was seen in one (0.3%). Of the six histology reports obtained, 3 (1%) were confirmed malignant, 2 (0.7%) were not malignant and one (0.3 %) was a fibrocystic disease. We found out that most masses seen were benign, although 33.3% of suspected cancer picked up on mammography was confirmed malignant. Also, microcalcifications were a strong indicator of malignancy in this study.

Key words: Mammography, Nigeria women, teaching hospital, imaging techniques.