Preoperative Testing and Imaging

There are a number of preoperative tests and imaging that can be performed prior to diagnosis.

Self-Breast Exam
Mammography
Breast Ultrasound
Breast MRI
Biopsy

Self-Breast Exam

Check your breasts on a regular basis. There are five steps to a breast self-examination.²¹

Mammography

There are four kinds of mammography:

Screening mammogram
Diagnostic mammogram
3-dimensional (3-D) mammogram (digital tomosynthesis)
Digital mammogram

Breast Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses sound waves to show pictures of the breast. Ultrasound can show the difference between fluid-filled cysts (usually not cancerous) and tumors.

Breast MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields instead of X rays to show very clear breast images and tumor size.

Biopsy

If a tumor is found on imaging, a biopsy is the only way to confirm breast cancer. A biopsy is the removal of tissue to examine cells. There are different types of biopsies.