Journal of Medical Diagnostic Methods
Open Access

Diagnosis and Screening of Breast Cancer: Advances in Imaging

Maya Masao^{* *}Correspondence: Maya Masao, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan, Email:

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Description

The health of the population is significantly impacted by breast cancer detection. Mammography is the most used method for screening for breast cancer, despite the fact that there are other breasts imaging modalities. Recall rates have reduced and cancer detection rates have increased after digital breast tomosynthesis was included to mammography.

Starting annual screening mammography at age 40 has shown to provide the best mortality reduction in women at average risk. Additional modalities, such as MRI, ultrasound, and molecular breast imaging, can also be investigated for adjunct screening to increase the diagnosis of mammographically occult cancer in women who are at intermediate or high risk, as well as in those who have dense breasts.

The most common method of screening for breast cancer that comes to mind is a mammogram, which is an X-ray scan of the breasts. Additionally, it can be employed for diagnostic purposes, including the examination of symptoms or anomalous results from alternative imaging tests. The breasts are pushed between two hard surfaces during a mammography in order to distribute the breast tissue. After that, a radiologist uses an X-ray to take black-and-white pictures, which are then seen on a computer screen and analyzed for indications of malignancy. Two-dimensional images of the breast are produced by a conventional mammography.

The arm vein receives a little injection of radioactive tracer during the Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) assessment. The blood carries the tracer to the tissue in the breasts. More of the tracer is absorbed by rapidly expanding cells than by slowly growing ones. Cancer cells can be distinguished if they are absorbing more of the tracer, as they frequently proliferate quickly. The radiation emitted by the tracer is detected by a specialized camera known as a gamma camera. The cells that absorb more tracers appear brighter than the surrounding cells in the gamma camera images. Women with thick breasts or an intermediate risk of breast cancer benefit the most from MBI.

The detection of breast cancer through screening mammography gets increasingly difficult as breast tissue density rises. It is crucial to understand that MBI is used in addition to screening mammography for the early diagnosis of breast cancer, not in substitution of it. Breast magnetic resonance imaging, or breast MRI, is a diagnostic tool used by medical professionals to assess breast cancer and identify the underlying causes of various breast issues. For women who have a high lifetime risk of breast cancer due to a strong family history, genetic risk, or other factors, a breast MRI is also advised as a screening procedure.

Strong magnets, radiofrequency detectors, and a computer are used in a breast MRI to provide extremely detailed images of the breasts. A breast MRI can be performed as a screening test, to further explore a breast discovery, or when a biopsy reveals cancer. Breast MRI is also useful for assessing the other breast and the extent of any malignancy.

When worrisome lesions are found on mammograms, ultrasound is now employed in addition to standard mammography. It can be used to identify solid masses that exhibit traits of malignant lesions and to distinguish a cyst from a solid mass. When a breast cyst is seen using ultrasonography, it appears as distinct, echo-free regions. These spaces are spherical or oval in shape, with clearly defined walls. A posterior acoustic augmentation is typically seen. Doppler ultrasound can also be used to determine whether the lesion is vascular.

Cysts never have blood vessels. Malignant masses can be seen as breast lesions with internal echoes on ultrasound pictures. Their speculated, loosely defined edges give them an uneven form. They may have calcifications and are frequently attached to breast ducts.

Patients with breast cancer now enjoy longer life expectancies and a lower death rate due to significant advancements in the utilization of radiologic techniques and modalities during the past 50 years. Technological innovations in breast cancer detection include tomosynthesis, MRIs, digital radiography, and ultrasound.