Performance of imaging exams in screening and diagnosis of breast cancer

M.O. Poenaru, D.M. Bogheanu, R.M. Sima, A. Diaconescu, L. Pleș

Rezumat: Breast cancer imposes a significant burden on our society. According to the 2020 data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), approximately 2.3 million women in 185 countries were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 685,000 women lost their lives to the disease. Medical imaging is essential for the timely detection and the precise staging of breast cancer, playing a crucial role in cancer management. Although there have been notable advancements in medical imaging, there is no single imaging technique that can comprehensively identify and characterize all breast abnormalities. Hence, a combined modality approach may still be required in certain cases. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the imaging techniques used in breast cancer diagnosis, assessing their efficacy, strengths, weaknesses and clinical utility. In order to collect relevant articles on breast cancer detection methods, an extensive search was carried out across databases, including PubMed, Elsevier and Google Scholar.
Cuvinte cheie: neoplasm, breast, ultrasound, imaging technology, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging.