title: Diagnosis of breast cancer: clinical and preclinical.
abstract: While a tentative diagnosis of lesion type can be made fairly accurately on the basis of a patient's history, combined with a thorough examination, and the use of diagnostic aids, biopsy and histologic examination remain the only absolute means of determining whether a lesion is benign, premalignant, or malignant.
mesh_terms: D000232:Adenofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation / Q000379:methods; D010212:Papilloma / Q000175:diagnosis; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D012306:Risk