Which department should I go to for breast examination?

If you need to undergo a breast examination, you must find the right department, otherwise misdiagnosis may occur. It is best to go to the gynecology department for relevant examinations. Only after a comprehensive gynecological examination can you know whether there are any problems inside your body. For example, X-ray examination can reveal the details and observe a preliminary lesion. Otherwise, the condition cannot be treated in time.

Because mammography can detect early breast cancer where no lumps can be felt clinically, and especially the new generation of digital mammography makes images clearer, the diagnosis rate of early breast cancer is higher, and its accuracy rate in differentiating benign from malignant tumors can even reach over 90%. Practice also shows that 85% of breast cancer patients under the age of 50 are discovered by breast mammography. Mammography screening can reduce the breast cancer mortality rate in women over 50 years old by 30%. Therefore, the American Cancer Society makes the following recommendations: Women aged 35 to 39 should undergo a mammogram; after the age of 40, once every one or two years; after the age of 50, once a year. Women over 35 years old in my country should also undergo mammography examination according to the above requirements. High-risk groups for breast cancer, such as those with menarche before 12 years old, menopause above 52 years old, first-time mothers at advanced age (>35 years old), single women, those with a family history of breast cancer, breast cancer on one side, those who have been exposed to radiation during adolescence and those with benign breast diseases, as well as those with more severe breast hyperplasia, fibroadenoma, mastitis and breast trauma, should undergo mammography examination once a year.

B-ultrasound examination is also one of the commonly used examination methods for breast diseases and can be used in combination with breast molybdenum target X-ray examination. This method is non-toxic, harmless, simple, and can identify benign, malignant, cystic, solid, hyperplastic and other breast diseases. However, ultrasound examinations sometimes produce false positives and are difficult to diagnose for masses smaller than 1 cm.

(3) Ductoscopy

If the patient has nipple discharge (watery discharge), a ductoscopy can be performed, which can confirm the diagnosis in most patients. This method has a high diagnosis rate and little pain, but before the examination, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) should be checked, and if necessary, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) should also be tested to prevent cross infection.

Pathological examination is an essential basis for clinical diagnosis of breast cancer, and is mainly used for suspected breast mammography and B-ultrasound examinations. Pathological examination includes cytopathology and histopathology. Cytopathology examination is less invasive, less painful, fast, and easy to perform. Histopathological examination can not only characterize the tumor, but also determine the type of tumor before surgery, providing a reference for treatment. The new generation of tissue puncture equipment can even remove early cancer lesions without the need for surgery.