Non palpable breast lesions: preoperative sonographic localization

From 1987 to 1992 at our Institute, 253 patients with non palpable breast lesions (NBPL) underwent a surgical excision. Fifty-one lesions (19.7%) were localized by an injection of a sterile 3% charcoal suspension under sonographic guide. The sonographic features of NBPL were classified as follows: positive in one case (2%), doubtful in 31 cases (60%) and negative in 19 cases (38%). According to our data the preoperative sonographic localization is a useful alternative procedure to stereotactis mammography in case of breast masses and/or areas of increased tissue density or distorted breast architecture.