| Word |
Definition
(in relation to breast imaging) |
| Axilla |
The armpit. |
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| Benign |
Non-cancerous and therefore not of immediate threat, even though treatment may be required. |
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| Biopsy |
The removal of a small piece of tissue from the breast for microscopic evaluation, to confirm or establish a diagnosis. |
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| Breast imaging |
The use of mammography (breast x-ray) and ultrasound to visualise the breast tissue. |
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| Breast calcification |
Calcium deposit or deposits within the breast tissue. |
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| Cancer |
A term used for disease characterised by abnormal and uncontrolled division of cells. |
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| Carcinoma |
A malignant tumour or lesion that invades breast tissue. |
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| Chemotherapy |
The treatment of breast cancer with chemical agents, used to destroy (or by impairing their ability to replicate) cancer cells. Often used in conjunction with radiation treatments. |
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| Clinical abnormality |
An abnormality in the breast made on the basis of knowledge obtained by medical history and physical examination alone, without the benefit of laboratory tests, x-rays or ultrasound. |
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| Cyst (breast) |
A fluid filled sac in the breast. They can be removed by aspiration with a fine needle. |
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| Cytopathologist |
A physician who specialises in the study of disease of cells, and cellular changes of disease. |
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| Diagnosis |
Identification of a breast disease or condition by scientific evaluation of physical signs, symptoms, history, laboratory tests, and procedures such as mammography, breast ultrasound, and biopsy. |
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| Diagnostic |
Pertaining to a diagnosis |
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| Ductal Carcinoma |
A cancer developing in the epithelium (lining) of ducts. |
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| Ducts |
Channels within the breasts, which pass milk from the lobules (when lactating). |
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| Ductogram |
A procedure done to demonstrate the duct system when patient has a relevant discharge from the nipple (usually blood stained). |
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| Fine needle aspiration biopsy |
A procedure in which a thin needle is introduced into the breast, to obtain a sampling of cells from an area targeted. |
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| First degree relative |
A member of a person's immediate family. For example a mother, or a sister. |
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| Hormone |
Chemicals excreted by glands. |
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| Hookwire |
A procedure, which involves the placement of a fine wire as pre-operative marker for a surgeon. |
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| Image guided FNA |
See definition of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Done on lesions identified on a mammogram, or done on cysts, or solid lesions seen on breast ultrasound. |
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| Lesion |
Any abnormality of the breast tissue. |
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| Lobe (breast) |
Part of the anatomy of the breast, containing ducts and lobules. |
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| Lobule |
Part of a breast lobe. |
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| Lumpectomy |
The surgical removal of a breast lump. |
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| Magnification |
A magnified (close up) view of an area of interest, taken during mammography. |
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| Malignant |
When describing a tumour, one which is cancerous. |
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| Mammogram |
An x-ray study of the breast using a specialised soft tissue radiographic technique. Used particularly to enable the early diagnosis of breast cancer. |
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| Mammographic abnormality |
An abnormality in the breast tissue, which is seen on a mammogram. |
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| Mammotome |
A biopsy technique where breast tissue is drawn into the sampling chamber of a needle using vacuum assistance. The technique allows for the collection of multiple tissue samples. |
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| Manual palpation |
A technique of physical examination, where the examiner feels the breast with his/her hands looking for lesions, and their location, size, texture and consistency. |
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| Mastectomy |
The surgical removal of the breast. |
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| Metastatic breast cancer |
Breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. |
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| Neoplasia |
The new, and abnormal development of cells that may be benign or malignant. |
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| Oncology |
The branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of cancer. |
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| Pathology |
The study of the characteristics, causes and effects of disease. |
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| Pathologist |
The physician who specialises in the study of disease. |
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| Psychosomatic |
Relating to, characterised by, or resulting from the interaction of the mind or psyche, and the body. |
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| Radiotherapy |
The use of radioactive substance in the diagnosis or treatment of disease. |
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| Radiation oncology |
The treatment of cancer using radiation (see above) |
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| Radiology |
The branch of medicine which uses various techniques of visualisation for the diagnosis of disease and injury. |
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| Radiographer |
A trained professional who is responsible for taking x-ray images. |
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| Radiologist |
A physician who specialises in radiology. |
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| Screening mammogram |
A mammogram that is performed for the purpose of detecting breast cancer, when there are no symptoms to suggest that a person has breast cancer. |
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| Sonongraphy |
(Ultrasonography) The process of imaging the structures of the breast tissue by measuring and recording the reflection of high frequency sound waves. |
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| Sonographer |
A trained professional who is responsible for taking ultrasound images. |
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| Stereotactic |
The use of stereoscopic mammogram images to target an abnormality for biopsy. |
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| Ultrasound (breast) |
The use of high frequency sound waves to image internal structures of the breast tissue. |
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