What is the modality of choice when screening for breast malignancy?

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Multiple Choice

What is the modality of choice when screening for breast malignancy?

Mammography is the modality of choice for screening breast cancer because it detects early-stage cancers and suspicious calcifications with a low, population-wide radiation dose, and it is practical, widely available, and cost-effective. Large studies show that regular screening mammography reduces breast cancer mortality, making it the standard approach for average-risk women. Ultrasound is excellent as an adjunct to evaluate a specific area or lump and is helpful in women with dense breasts as a supplemental tool, but it isn’t used alone for population screening. MRI has very high sensitivity and is reserved for high-risk individuals or problem-solving scenarios due to cost, availability, and higher false-positive rates. CT is not used for breast cancer screening because it exposes patients to more radiation and provides less optimal soft-tissue detail for screening purposes.

Mammography is the modality of choice for screening breast cancer because it detects early-stage cancers and suspicious calcifications with a low, population-wide radiation dose, and it is practical, widely available, and cost-effective. Large studies show that regular screening mammography reduces breast cancer mortality, making it the standard approach for average-risk women.

Ultrasound is excellent as an adjunct to evaluate a specific area or lump and is helpful in women with dense breasts as a supplemental tool, but it isn’t used alone for population screening. MRI has very high sensitivity and is reserved for high-risk individuals or problem-solving scenarios due to cost, availability, and higher false-positive rates. CT is not used for breast cancer screening because it exposes patients to more radiation and provides less optimal soft-tissue detail for screening purposes.

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