Beyond Mammograms: Other Breast Cancer Screening Tests You Should Know About

Breast MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of breast tissue. It's particularly useful for women at high risk of breast cancer, such as those with BRCA gene mutations. MRI can detect small tumors that mammograms might miss, especially in dense breast tissue. However, it's more expensive and may lead to more false positives than mammograms.

Breast Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of breast tissue. It's often used as a follow-up to mammograms when an abnormality is detected. Ultrasound is particularly good at distinguishing between solid masses and fluid-filled cysts. It's also useful for women with dense breast tissue, where mammograms may be less effective. However, ultrasound can miss some cancers that mammograms would detect.

Clinical Breast Exam

A clinical breast exam (CBE) is a physical examination of the breast by a healthcare professional. The examiner looks for visual changes and feels for lumps or other abnormalities. While not as sensitive as imaging tests, CBE can detect some cancers that imaging might miss. It's also an opportunity for women to learn about proper breast self-examination techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

While mammograms remain the gold standard, other screening methods can provide valuable additional information for certain women.

Related Articles

• Mammograms: Your Ultimate Guide to Breast Cancer Screening
• Breast Cancer Risk Factors: What You Need to Know
• Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): The Breast Cancer You Might Not Have Heard Of
• Breast Changes: When to Worry and When to Relax

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