Radiology and the breast

Mammography should be able to: Detect a high proportion of breast cancers well in advance of any other alternative currently available, and with good positive and negative predictive values. Provide access to impalpable lesions. Offer valuable information in many cases about the tumour, and useful correlation with clinical and pathological findings. Mammography can not: Find all breast cancers. Up to three per cent of even advanced cancers may be missed, especially those of the invasive lobular type. Offer close pathological correlation where the mammographic appearances are indeterminate or non specific. The role of mammography in benign breast disease or the role of radiological modalities other than mammography in the staging and follow up of diagnosed breast cancer has not been discussed. There is nevertheless a mounting excitement within the radiology community that in the absence of useful preventive measures to control the devastating effects of breast cancer, early and accurate diagnosis is the best we can do. The films must be of excellent quality and must be interpreted by experienced people with common sense, an openness to continuing education and a committed desire to do the best for every woman.