Breast screening: clinical guidelines for screening assessment

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.