Breast Cancer in Patients Younger Than 40 Years: Imaging, Assessment, and Management

“Young women,” defined as women younger than 40 years at breast cancer diagnosis, represent approximately 7% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer in developed countries. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in young women. It constitutes more than 12,150 newly diagnosed patients every year in the United States. Young women have specific issues including those related to fertility, cancer genetics, and psychosocial concerns, and often need a different approach than do older women.1 Although breast cancer in older women is detected most commonly by mammographic screening, breast cancer in young women is diagnosed more often by clinical symptoms. Delayed diagnosis in this age group is common due to lack of awareness in women and physicians.2 The radiologist must have an appropriate level of suspicion while evaluating young women so as not to miss breast cancer.
Source: Contemporary Diagnostic Radiology - Category: Radiology Tags: ARTICLE Source Type: research