How is breast cancer diagnosed?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Trinh Thi Phuong Nga - Radiologist - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital. The doctor has nearly 20 years of experience in diagnostic imaging.

1. What is breast chlorophyll?

Lymphoma is a fairly rare tumor of the breast, has a leaf-like cell shape, usually begins outside the milk ducts and lobes (milk-producing glands) and develops in the connective tissues (the stroma). ) in the mammary gland.
It is estimated that phyllodes tumors account for less than 1% of all breast tumors. Of which, 90% of chlorophyll tumors in the mammary gland are not malignant tumors, the remaining 10% have the potential to develop into breast cancer. However, no matter what type, syphilis in the breast tends to grow very quickly and all require treatment.
Currently, the cause of the formation of chlorophyll tumors in the breast is still not clear, only known that chlorophyll in the breast can appear at any age, but it is most common in women above 40 years old and not yet menopause. In addition, there are factors that can increase the risk of disease such as: people who are breastfeeding, people who have physical damage to the chest area.

2. Symptoms of breast chlorophyll tumor

When there is a breast phyllodes tumor, the patient can notice and feel it during home examination or when visiting the doctor. In general, through diagnostic tools such as imaging tests, chlorophyll tumors can be clearly shown with the following characteristics:
The average tumor size is 4-7cm, the smallest tumor is only 1cm. but can be as large as 40cm, usually appearing in the upper quadrant of the udder. Breast phyllodes tumor has a rapid growth rate, increasing 2-3cm in a few months. When palpating the phyllodes tumor, it will be firm, clear, well mobile even though the tumor is large, multi-lobed and painless, the skin on the tumor is usually smooth, glossy and thin. There are rare cases of chest wall invasion, nipple retraction, skin ulceration, and rarely bilateral tumors.

3. Diagnosis of breast chlorophyll tumor

Diagnosing breast phyllodes tumors is not easy because they often present similar to fibrocystic breast disease - a common benign condition in the breast. However, fibroids are more common in young women (around 30 years of age), while breast phyllodes tumors are more common in people over 40 years of age and tend to grow very quickly.

3.1. Distinguish between benign and malignant syphilis * Usually, benign (more than 50%) chlorophyll tumors will have the following features:
The edges of the tumor are clearly defined. Cells do not tend to multiply too quickly. Connective tissue cells look like normal cells and do not overgrow. * Malignant chlorophyll tumors (about 25%) will have the following characteristics:
Tumor has undefined edges. Cells that divide rapidly, have irregular shapes. Connective tissue cells overgrow. Breast chlorophyll tumors can be located between benign and malignant, and will have mixed features of both types.
3.2. Methods of diagnosis of breast chlorophyll tumors Currently, to diagnose breast chlorophyll tumors, common diagnostic methods are applied such as:
Paraclinical examination: palpation to assess the abnormality, examination Check the shape and size of the breast. Breast ultrasound: helps to observe the nature and shape of the tumor. Mammography (Mammography): Breast phyllodes tumor usually appears as a large round or oval shape with clear lobe margins. Mammography can be combined with other tests to confirm the correct diagnosis. Mammography MRI: helps to see more clearly the image of the tumor and plan the surgical route. Breast biopsies include 2 types: Core biopsy - take a sample of the tumor and aspirate to remove the entire tumor after being identified by Vacuum Needle and testing for tumor cells.

The most accurate way to identify the nature of the tumor is to perform a biopsy. Some doctors believe that a biopsy should be used to remove it immediately if there are signs of a chlorophyll tumor. The evaluation of the entire tumor will also help make a more accurate diagnosis (using a core biopsy needle to take a small amount of tissue for testing). After determining that it is a breast chlorophyll tumor, the doctor will check whether it is benign, malignant or the border between benign and malignant to have the most appropriate treatment plan.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a Breast Cancer Screening Package, which helps customers screen and detect breast cancer early even when there are no symptoms. When registering for the Breast Cancer Screening Package, customers will receive:
Examination and consultation with an oncologist. Breast cancer screening by bilateral breast ultrasound and Mammography (mammogram). Up to now, Vinmec has become a prestigious address in breast cancer screening with:
Team of highly qualified and experienced doctors. Comprehensive professional cooperation with domestic and international hospitals: Singapore, Japan, USA, etc. Comprehensive treatment and care for patients, multi-specialty coordination towards individualizing each patient. Having a full range of specialized facilities to diagnose the disease and stage it before treatment: Endoscopy, CT scan, PET-CT scan, MRI, histopathological diagnosis, gene-cell testing, .. There are full range of mainstream cancer treatment methods: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant...

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