Breast Pathology and Cancer Diagnosis

Screening, Monitoring and Diagnosis

Breast Cancer can be detected through screening tests. Screening earlier can improve the chances of survival. Clinical breast exam, Biopsy and mammography are breast cancer screening tests.  At higher risk of breast cancer breast MRI can also be used for some women. Powerful magnetic field and radio waves are used during Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which produces detailed images of structures within the breast. If breast cancer gets detected either by screening tests or from symptoms diagnostic tests are given to the woman who is suspected of having breast cancer.

Diagnostic tests includes Mammogram (X-ray of breast), Breast ultrasound (uses sound waves to produce pictures of structures), Removing a sample of breast cells for testing (biopsy), Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).These diagnostic tests confirm the presence or absence of breast cancer and give more information about breast cancer like whether it has travelled outside the breast or not. Many tests are used to monitor how well therapies are working after the diagnosis of breast cancer.