How reliably can breast cancer be detected by ultrasound?
Ultrasound is not suitable as the sole means of detecting breast cancer. It is initially used in women under 40 to rule out benign changes. These can be particularly well visualized in ultrasound. However, if there is a suspicion of breast cancer, an additional mammography must be performed. Since tumors smaller than 5mm and small calcifications, which indicate a tumor, cannot be detected by ultrasound, it is only useful as an additional diagnostic tool, but not as the sole diagnostic tool.
How reliably can breast cancer be detected by mammography?
An X-ray examination of the breast (mammography) is the only method that allows early detection of breast cancer. During the examination even the smallest calcifications and small tissue changes can be shown. Often, however, it is not possible to distinguish between benign and malignant changes. Even in younger women, the images are less meaningful due to the higher tissue density of the breast. Nevertheless, 85-90% of all patients with breast cancer can be detected by mammography.
Can breast cancer be detected by a blood test?
A blood test to diagnose breast cancer is not used. There are no markers and values in the blood that can unequivocally detect breast cancer. Blood tests are used for other purposes.
An inflammatory reaction can be detected by altered markers such as CRP, blood sedimentation rate and leukocytes. For example, a mutation of the BRCA gene can also indicate an increased risk of disease if a genetic strain is suspected. In addition, blood tests are used to assess the success of the therapy or growing metastases.
MRT for breast cancer
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging, breast MRI, magnetic resonance imaging) is not a standard procedure in breast cancer diagnostics. It is primarily used when the other imaging procedures, mammography and ultrasound, have not been able to provide conclusive results. Since this procedure allows the body to be viewed in longitudinal and transverse sections, an avoidable tumor can be assessed particularly well with regard to its size and location.
However, the MRI is not error-free either. Although it is very sensitive, it does lead to a decrease in its specificity. The specificity indicates how many false-positive (a cancer is diagnosed although none is present) findings occur. Only in very young patients with a greatly increased risk of cancer is MRI the method of first choice for early detection, since mammography often has little informative value due to the still very dense mammary gland tissue in these patients.
