Q&A: Commonly Asked Questions

Courtesy of ABC News
Question: In addition to mammograms, are there other types of scans or tests that can be done to detect breast cancer?

Answer: Other tests, such as an ultrasound, can be useful, not in screening, but to determine whether or not a mass in the breast is a cyst or a solid. MRIs of the breast are being used more commonly, especially in women who are at a high risk for breast cancer, such as those who have one of the genetic predispositions or women who have had previous breast cancers in whom we are questioning the results of a mammogram; MRIs may be helpful in this setting. But at this particular point, mammograms are still the best screening test for breast cancer.