Breast Imaging: what women & healthcare professionals need to know

Women in Radiology should be aware of the importance of early detection of breast cancer, the most common cancer in women. This knowledge is essential to advocate for high quality breast imaging for women, including themselves and their patients. The imaging modalities used in breast imaging have dramatically changed the way in which breast cancer may be diagnosed, and their use affects the stage at which it is diagnosed. Breast cancer may be screen-detected, either with mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, breast ultrasound, breast MRI or contrast-enhanced mammography, and is typically diagnosed at stage 1. Incidental detection with Chest CT, abdominal CT or MRI or by PET CT may also lead to a diagnosis of breast cancer. When detected because of symptoms in women who have not undergone routine screening or as an interval cancer in women after a normal screen typically because of the masking effect of dense breast tissue, breast cancer is typically diagnosed at a more advanced stage, stage IIA or greater. A review of the imaging modalities currently used to diagnose breast cancer is provided and includes the advantages and limitations of each modality and the ways to optimize the imaging quality for detection of breast cancer. Up-to-date recommendations aimed to minimize the harms of delayed diagnosis of breast cancer are summarized to improve the health of women in Radiology and their patients.