Guidance

Breast screening: clinical guidelines for screening assessment

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

Published 1 June 2010
Last updated 15 November 2016 — see all updates
From:
Public Health England

Documents

Clinical guidelines for breast cancer screening assessment: fourth edition

Ref: NHSBSP Publication No 49; PHE publications gateway number: 2016426 PDF, 510KB, 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 15 November 2016 + show all updates
  1. Updated with new 2016 clinical guidance.
  2. First published.