The consultant surgeon and mammography

It is important that the mounting wave of criticism of mammography in breast screening programmes should not obscure the fact that it remains the most accurate method of diagnosing breast cancer short of biopsy. Furthermore, breast cancer may be diagnosed by mammography at an early stage before it has spread to regional lymph nodes, at a time when the prognosis is better. At this time it may be beneficial to outline the role of mammography as an aid to the consultant surgeon in the management of patients referred with breast problems.