Documentation and Correlation of Senologic Findings

Abstract

Documentation of the results of a breast examination is extremely important. Without accurate documentation, communication is impossible. Owing to the increased use of mammography and ultrasound, nonpalpable lesions of unknown origin are increasingly being detected. The demands on doctors involved in the diagnostic investigation of nonpalpable lesions have greatly increased (Senofsky et al. 1998; Liberman et al. 2001; Stavros et al. 2004; Sittek et al. 2004; Florentine et al. 2004; Burkholder et al. 2007). Experience shows that the investigation of a large number of these lesions is not ideal. The proper practical procedure can usually only be learned by on-the-job training, as more than 2,000 participants have experienced in our workshops since 1977. A precondition for diagnostic investigation is to know the localization, size, shape, and surrounding tissue of the lesion, irrespective of whether this is later marked stereotactically or isometrically (Brun del Re et al. 1979). It is essential to prove that possible clinical, sonographic, mammographic, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities are distinct or amalgamated lesions.