Breast- Investigation / Tests

1. Triple Assessment

Whatever a woman's symptoms, and especially if a lump is present, the normal way of investigation is by triple assessment.

Triple assessment comprises of (i) Clinical Examination, (ii) Cytopathology (either FNA or core biopsy) and (iii) Radiology (either mammography or ultrasound).

In each of these types of assessment/investigation, there are 4 possible results.

• Benign
• Suspicious
• Malignant
• Inconclusive

This is very important in terms of what further treatments or investigations should be performed. 

As a general rule, unless all three tests return a "benign" result, further investigation is almost mandatory.

To give an example, if a 25 year old woman presents with a 2cm lump that is clinically and radiologically benign, but that is suspicious on FNA, it must be biopsied formally to resolve the uncertainty.  If on the other hand all three results were benign, it could probably be left alone unless the patient felt very strongly about having it removed.