The role of ABUS in the diagnosis of breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer, which is the most common cancer in women, is a major problem both in Poland and worldwide. Mammography remains the primary screening method. However, the sensitivity of mammographic screening is lower in women with dense glandular breasts due to tissue overlap and the effect of the glandular tissue obscuring the tumor and the fact that tumors and glandular tissue show similar X-ray absorption. Consequently, other methods are being sought to increase breast cancer detection rates. Currently, the most common and used methods are ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and advanced mammographic methods (digital breast tomosynthesis and contrast-enhanced spectral mammography). Despite many advantages and superiority over mammography in dense breasts, they also have many disadvantages. Ultrasound is operator-dependent and the other techniques are expensive or not widely available. The Automated Breast Ultrasound Service (ABUS) technique appears to be a good option in terms of both effectiveness and lower cost.