BREAST LUMP: MAMMOGRAPHY OR ULTRASONOGRAPHY?

Lumps on the breast are often complained by breast cancer patients. They did not consistently reflect a cancer, breast lumps can also form a normal tissue such as milk calcification, inflammation or only benign fibroid tissue. However, every woman agrees to always be aware of and do breast self-examination (BSE) routinely since every woman has a risk for breast cancer. In Indonesia alone, the average breast cancer sufferer is 10 out of 100 thousand women. BSE is done to prevent death. What to do if you find a lump in your breast?

First, remain calm and immediately carry out further checks to the doctor. If it is related to familial breast cancer, your doctor may examine genetics test for breast cancer such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. After physical examination and illustrating the texture of the lump, its location, binding to normal tissue and the presence or absence of inflammation signs such as redness and tenderness, the doctor will perform radiological imaging starting from the simplest Mammography, Ultrasonography (USG) to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The selection of appropriate radiological examination modalities is important in determining the characteristics of breast lumps. Mammography and ultrasound are the modalities of radiological examination that are most often used to diagnose breast lumps. What is the difference?

Mammography or mammogram is a radiological imaging tool using low-energy X-ray (X-ray) technology to produce images of breast tissue. Mammography that utilizes conventional radiology is a type of examination that is simple, fast, with low costs and is available in many health service places. Mammography is recommended for women aged 35 years and above. Weaknesses of mammography, among others, are not suitable for distinguishing benign and malignant disorders, less sensitive in young women with dense breasts, and the effects of X-ray radiation exposure.

While ultrasound is a radiological imaging tool using sound waves to detect abnormalities in the breast. Ultrasound can also be used to assist biopsy (tissue retrieval). Ultrasound is relatively safer than mammography because there is no radiation exposure effect. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also be used to detect abnormalities in soft tissue including the breast, but this tool is limited and requires a relatively higher cost when compared to Mammography and USG.

The findings from the radiology examination will be categorized into a BI-RADS (Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System) scoring system which is a risk assessment and quality assurance tool developed by the American College of Radiology for breast imaging. Through the BI-RADS scoring system, it can help doctors to determine the nature of the malignancy of the breast lump and subsequent proper management.

Don't hesitate to start loving yourself, dear fabulous women!

Get to know yourself by screening your health, as early as possible!