Breast cancer: update on imaging modalities

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Conventional mammography and ultrasound no longer present the only options for imaging, in the detection of breast cancer. The imaging modalities currently available are described in the paper. Breast MRI is compared with contrast enhanced mammography, which is an emerging modality in breast cancer detection. These two modalities use intravenous contrast (i.v.) to provide functional information. They are compared in terms of sensitivity, specificity, radiation dose, rates of contrast reactions, as well as availability.

Lay abstract

The different types of imaging methods for cancer of the breast are discussed. The focus is on comparing magnetic resonance imaging with a fairly recent advance of using contrast for visualising breasts.