Guidance

Breast screening: clinical guidelines for screening assessment

NHSBSP Publication No 49: clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals screening women for breast cancer.

• From: NHS England
• Published: 1 June 2010
• Last updated: 29 July 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Clinical guidelines for breast cancer screening assessment: fourth edition

Ref: NHSBSP Publication No 49; PHE publications gateway number: 2016426

PDF, 510 KB, 36 pages

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Details

The aim of assessment is to obtain a definitive and timely diagnosis of all potential abnormalities detected during screening.

This is best achieved by using ‘triple assessment’, comprising:

• imaging (usually mammography and ultrasound)
• clinical examination
• image guided needle biopsy for histological examination if indicated

Cytology should no longer be used alone to obtain a non-operative diagnosis of breast cancer.

Published 1 June 2010

Last updated 29 July 2025 + show all updates

1. 29 July 2025

   Changed lead organisation from Public Health England to NHS England.

2. 15 November 2016

   Updated with new 2016 clinical guidance.

3. 1 June 2010

   First published.