The use of mammography in diagnosis and screening

Up to nine per cent of women are destined to have breast cancer. Of these 25% are likely to be occult lesions only detectable on mammography. Early detection in important. Ten year survivals of over 65% can be expected in patients without axillary node involvement, compared to 25% with nodes. Apart from biopsy, mammography is the most sensitive method of cancer detection and is therefore of considerable help to the surgeon in evaluation of breast disease.