Conclusion
Conventional breast diagnostic techniques have been refined to allow better sensitivity and specificity, fewer 'harms' from the test, such as lower radiation doses, and, importantly, the ability to offer surveillance to women in higher-risk groups. Emerging techniques offer even more exciting possibilities, including perhaps the possibility of identifying low-risk groups who could be spared frequent surveillance. To date, the dream of a simple test to accurately predict in whom and when cancer may occur, allowing very early detection or even prevention, is not a reality, but with rapid developments in molecular genetics this may become possible in the next few decades.
Future Oncol. 2008;4(4):501-503. © 2008 Future Medicine Ltd.
Cite this: New Diagnostic Techniques for Breast Cancer Detection - Medscape - Aug 01, 2008.
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