RESUMEN
Although the usefulness of mammography as a screening test for breast cancer is still indispute, its use topatients over 50 years of age is valid. Since Wolfe first classified the breast parenchymal patterns of mammography into 4 patterns, many authors have adopted the criteria in studying the changes of the parenchymalpatterns for certain ages and the risks for breast cancer of certain parenchymal patterns. Authors reviewed 49cases of breast masses which diagnosed by mammography and by operation during the period from January 1978 to July 1983 at St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Medical College. The parenchymal tissue patterns were classifed according toWolfe into NI, P1, P2 and DY. Risk groups were classified into low risk group (N1, P1) and high group(P2, DY). Onthe basis of these criteria, benign and malignant disease were analyzed against the breast parenchymal patterns.The results and conclusions were as follows: 1. Age ranged from 16 years to 67 years with the most prevalent agebeing 4th and 5th decades. 2. Diagnoses were; fibroadenoma 17 cases, fibrous dysplasia 16 cases, ductal papilloma3 cases, and cancer 13 cases. 3. Categorization of those 26 bening disease according to the Wolfe's criteria was:N1 6 cases, P1 10 cases, P2 9 cases and DY 11 cases. On the other hand, categorization of 13 cases of cancerwas:N1 5 cases, P1 3 cases, P2 3 cases, and DY 2 cases. 4. Of 13 cases of cancer, 8 fell in the low risk group andremainder in the high risk group. There were no significant correlation between the parenchymal patterns and theincidence of breast cancer.