Senology

The importance of mammography screening

In the age group of 50 to 69 years, mammography is recommended every two years for early detection of breast cancer.

Screening mammography allows detection of even small tumors (less than 1 cm), which in most cases have not yet developed lymph node or distant metastases. This increases the chances of survival and cure: in fact, tumors smaller than 1 cm have a 95% chance of cure.

Mammography performed as part of a screening program differs from mammography requested by the attending physician or gynecologist and is performed only in centers accredited by the screening program of Canton Ticino. The Breast Center of Italian Switzerland is one of the accredited centers for this examination.

During the first visit, the senologist will proceed with:

• Medical history.
• Clinical examination of the breast: observation phase and palpation phase.
• Ultrasound examination: simple and painless procedure to visualize the breast structure with great precision.

Follow-up examinations for diagnosis:

• Mammography (breast X-ray).
• Ultrasound.
• Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI or MRA.
• Fine needle sampling, performed "freehand" or under ultrasound guidance.
• Percutaneous biopsy, performed "freehand," under ultrasound, mammography or MRI guidance.
• Vacuum-assisted macrobiopsy, which is a breast tissue sampling.
• Sentinel lymph node: search and marking, identification and removal of sentinel lymph node, histological examination.

Breast surgery:

• Genuine breast surgery: removal of the tumor by breast-conserving surgery (suitable in the case of early-stage breast cancer in all cases where there are no contraindications) or removal of the entire breast (mastectomy, indicated for patients who are not candidates for breast-conserving surgery)
• Reconstructive surgery: operations aimed at correcting the shape of a part of the body that presents an abnormality with respect to what is considered anatomical normality: an abnormality may be congenital, i.e., present from birth, or acquired (secondary) as a result of disease, trauma, surgery of various kinds.