Current Imaging Techniques in Breast Cancer: An Overview

Abstract

Tissue diagnosis has been recognized as the gold standard method of diagnosing breast cancer; however, over the last few decades, radiologic imaging has taken the center-stage in pre-operative diagnosis of breast cancer. Radiological imaging tools play a crucial role in not only early detection of breast cancer and staging but also help the surgeons in chalking out the surgical plan and later also in surveillance of the patients. While the advancements in imaging have improved the rate of early detection of breast cancer, ‘false alarms’ raised due to limitations of existing imaging methods are an important area of concern. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the capabilities and limitations of the current imaging techniques in breast cancer.

Keywords: BI-RADS, Breast cancer, Magnetic resonance imaging, Mammography, Positron emission tomography, Screening, USG.

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