Abstract

Muttarak M
Dept of Radiology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Mammography is currently the most sensitive method for the detection of early breast carcinoma. Screening mammography is used to detect clinically-occult breast carcinoma, whereas diagnostic mammography is performed to further evaluate an abnormality detected on screening mammography or clinically. Nevertheless, most studies have reported a sensitivity of cancer detection in the range of 68-92%. Some occult cancers, and even palpable ones, may not be evident at mammography. Delayed diagnosis of breast carcinoma results in an unfavorable prognosis. The failure to detect cancer on a mammogram may be caused by many factors including: dense breast parenchyma obscuring a lesion, subtle features of malignancy, perception error, interpretation error, unusual lesion characteristics such as slow growing tumors, and poor technique or positioning.