In the article Breast lump, lumps, lumpiness, Dr EVELYN HO of The Star looks at the imaging options that can help diagnose what’s going on in the breast.
IN the case of breast lumps, breast imaging tests will clarify the situation and you can leave for home with some definite answers.
If you are under 35 years old, the first investigation would be an ultrasound for your breast lump, lumps or lumpiness. If you are above 35 years, it may be a mammogram, and then, after the mammogram, you may still need an ultrasound.
If you are already at least 40 years old with a breast lump, the first investigation will be a mammogram, and it may still be followed with an ultrasound.
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The mammogram
THIS is a special imaging investigation of the breasts using very low dose x-rays. It is currently still the best tool available for women of the appropriate age group to detect breast cancer at the earliest stage, BEFORE it can be felt by the hands.
Mammograms are able to detect cancers at the “pre-cancer” stage, posing a challenge for researchers to find out who will and who will not progress to overt cancer.
If you don’t have an abnormal physical finding, and if you don’t have unusually strong family history of young breast cancer, then, the mammogram is normally advised from 40 years onwards.
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Breast Ultrasound
THE ultrasound (imaging of the breasts using high frequency sound waves) is very useful in differentiating the lumpy texture of the breast (lumpiness) from true lumps (growths) because the radiologist (specialist doctor) or the trained sonographer (technologist or radiographer trained in performing the ultrasound scan) can investigate the exact area that is bothering the patient or as indicated by the doctor who examined you initially.
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Source: The Star
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