Evaluation and management of breast abnormalities.
The increasing use of screening mammography, liability risks, and volume control legislation by the federal government pose a major challenge to clinicians to safely select patients for breast biopsy. Despite a normal mammogram, a palpable breast mass often requires aspiration or excisional biopsy. Careful clinical judgement must prevail if observation is elected. A biopsy should be performed on a clinically suspicious mass whether the mammogram is suspicious or not. Management of the patient with a nonpalpable mammographic abnormality requires a close working relationship among the surgeon, pathologist, and radiologist. Thoughtful clinical judgement and interdisciplinary cooperation promote an acceptable benign to malignant ratio for breast biopsies.
Department of Surgery, Evanston Hospital, Illinois 60201.
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DP
Winchester
D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D010173:Palpation