Top-level diagnostics of breast diseases

Clinical examination performed by a doctor

Clinical examination is performed at the primary appointment with a clinical oncologist when the patient refers to LISOD for the first time. The examination includes collecting anamnesis which means obtaining as much information as possible about the history of disease, any previous diagnostic procedures or tests, complaints and symptoms, any other diseases that a patient might have, and similar diseases in her family. It also includes a detailed physical examination of the patient assessing the part of the body affected by the disease as well as other body parts, checking the symptoms and performing tests to confirm the diagnosis and discover other pathologies. An initial diagnosis is formed based on the results of clinical examination and collected patient history, and if this data is not enough to establish the final diagnosis, the plan for additional tests is drawn. When all the information is gathered every patient is discussed at the multidisciplinary mammolgical concilium. The result of the concilium is then formulated as a conclusion with a detailed plan of treatment or additional diagnostics. 

Diagnostic visualization techniques

Diagnostic visualization means obtaining images of certain body parts or the whole body with help of instrumental tests, mostly radiological (ultrasound, CT, MRI, etc.). These methods allow to determine the extent to which the tumor has spread in the body and thus to establish the stage of the disease. 

Diagnostic visualization techniques that are used in oncological mammology include:

Biopsy

Oncological diagnosis consists of two major parameters – stage (an extent to which the tumor spread in the body) and biological features of the tumor (type, kind of tumor, presence of specific receptors, mutations, and other characteristics). A biological type of a tumor determines its sensitivity to different means of treatment and thus is the major parameter in the choice of therapy. To determine the biological features, you have to analyze the tissue, meaning you have to take a sample – a piece of tumor for examination. This process is called biopsy. 

Therefore, biopsy is a procedure when a sample of a suspicious part of the body is taken for examination and either the biological features of a tumor are determined, or the absence of tumor is confirmed. There are different biopsy techniques, and each has its features. 

Pathomorphological diagnostics

Pathomorphological diagnostics is an examination of the tumor tissue samples obtained during the biopsy. It is the data of the pathomorphological examination that allows to correctly identify the biological type of the tumor, its sensitivity to one kind of treatment or another, to appropriately choose an effective therapy and assess the disease prognosis. This information is critical to prescribe correct systemic drug treatment for each specific tumor. 

Pathomorphological diagnostics is an essential diagnostic method in oncology. 

There are a few diseases that can lead to death unless the treatment is prescribed or provided in time. However, these diseases can be successfully cured when identified timely. Breast cancer is one of these diseases. 

Timely detection means to determine there is a problem with the breasts before it manifests clinically. It means that these neoplasms cannot be felt on touch, do not affect the skin or nipple, they are usually small and do not invade the lymphatic nodes etc. 

How can you detect something that cannot be seen from the outside and is not palpable? 

For this you need to regularly undergo an annual examination – mammography. This kind of planned examinations of healthy people to discover diseases at early stages is called screening.