ABSTRACT
Radiological staging of the primary tumour is carried out at assessment with mammography and ultrasound in the first instance. The longest diameter in a tri-planar measurement across modalities is subsequently used to generate a T stage. Ultrasound is generally the next modality employed to evaluate any abnormalities detected on mammogram or clinical palpation and is the primary modality in young patients in order to avoid radiation exposure. The choice of modalities used for staging varies according to local availability, and also the patient's symptoms and signs at clinical work-up. For bone metastases, bone scintigraphy is commonly used, with hot spots reflecting sites of osteoblastic activity, which is often high in metastatic deposits. The treatment of breast cancer is constantly evolving, with a focus on minimally invasive and radiologically guided procedures to increase diagnostic accuracy, decrease recovery time, minimise excessive tissue removal and consequently improve final cosmesis.
