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The facts are as follows: around 12 people are registered in Poland. new cases every year. 70 percent breast cancer cases are detected by the women themselves. 75 percent nodules is not cancer, but turns out to be a benign change in the breast – a cyst, fibroma, or lipoma.
The number of cases is increasing every year, and cancer can affect both mature women (at high risk) and young women. But it is also true that the tumor grows slowly, so systematic examinations – self-examination, ultrasound and mammography – give a chance to detect the lesion at an early stage. And if the cancer is detected early, it has a good chance of being cured. Among women aged 50-69 who participated in screening tests, early detection of a lesion reduced mortality from this disease by about 27%. Detailed diagnostic tests are performed when preliminary tests indicate the possibility of cancer.
What is a mammogram (MRTG)?
Mammography is a type of low-dose x-ray that can examine your breasts for any changes. In recent years, two new MRTG methods have appeared that ensure even greater accuracy of the examination: digital mammography (FFDM) and CAD (computer-aided detection).
What is MRTG used for?
Mammography is a screening test for early cancerous changes in women who do not report any disturbing breast symptoms. It is also used to diagnose breast diseases in people who have sensed a lump in them, or have observed breast soreness or leakage of secretions from the nipple.
What are the limitations of MRTG?
In many cases, MRTG does not allow to determine whether the revealed lesion is benign or malignant. Then it is necessary to conduct more detailed research.
Breast implants can make breast imaging difficult because silicone is not fully X-ray permeable and may obscure the tissues behind it, especially if the implant is placed in front of, not underneath, the pectoral muscle. Experienced technicians and doctors know how to compress the breast with the implant during the examination to improve the image without damaging the implant itself. If you have implants, when registering for an MRTG, make sure the facility has the appropriate equipment, and the technician and x-ray doctor have adequate experience in MRTG in women with implants.
What is a breast ultrasound?
Ultrasound is an examination in which, thanks to the use of ultrasound waves, the tissues that make up the breast are visualized. It is a quick and convenient test, and the initial result can be obtained during the test. When moving the ultrasound head over the breast, the doctor can see what its structure is (whether pathological changes are present). Unlike mammography (MRTG), it is not always necessary to wait for the test result.
An additional examination performed during the ultrasound is a Doppler examination. Thanks to it, it is possible to assess the blood flow in the vessels of the breast (flow direction and its speed). This test may be useful in the case of detecting a change in the breast, when it is necessary to determine whether it is vascularized (which may, for example, spread through the bloodstream).
When should a breast ultrasound be performed?
A change detected during self-examination or breast examination by a gynecologist, or blood or other discharge from the nipple often requires careful diagnosis. Ultrasound is also often used as a complementary test when the nature of the lesion in the breast cannot be accurately determined during MRTG. Ultrasound determines whether the detected lesion is solid (hard), which may indicate calcification, fibrosis, or a cancerous tumor, or whether it is filled with fluid (e.g. benign cysts). Ultrasound can also show other features of the lesion.
Ultrasound-guided biopsy
If it is not possible to determine the nature of the lesion in the breast through imaging tests, your doctor may recommend a biopsy. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia and the needle is guided to the lesion under ultrasound guidance. This ensures greater precision of the examination.
Find out more about breast research!