Abstract: Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound S-Detect in the diagnosis of breast masses. Methods A total of 85 breast masses in 62 female patients were diagnosed by S-Detect technique and conventional ultrasound. The diagnostic efficacy of conventional ultrasound and S-Detect technique was analyzed and compared with postoperative pathological results as the gold standard. Results When operated by junior physicians, the diagnostic efficacy of conventional ultrasound was significantly lower than that of S-Detect technique (P<0.05), but this difference was not observed in moderatelyexperienced and senior physicians (P>0.05). S-Detect technique was positively correlated with the diagnostic results of seniorphysicians (r=0.97). Using S-Detect technique, the diagnostic efficacy did not differ significantly between the long axis sectionand its vertical section (P>0.05). Routine ultrasound showed a better diagnostic efficacy than S-Detect for breast masses with adiameter below 20 mm (P<0.05), but for larger breast masses, its diagnostic efficacy was significantly lower than that of S-Detect (P<0.05). Conclusion S-Detect can be used in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast masses, and its diagnostic efficiency can be comparable with that of BI-RADS classification for moderately experienced and senior physicians, but its diagnostic efficacy can be low for breast masses less than 20 mm in diameter.

Key words: S-Detect technique; breast mass; conventional ultrasound; diagnostic value