Clinical examination
Imaging (usually mammography, ultrasonography, or both)
Needle biopsy
This approach naturally lends itself to a gradually increasing degree of invasiveness, so that a diagnosis can be obtained with the minimum degree of invasiveness and, consequently, the minimum amount of discomfort to the patient. Because the more invasive investigations also tend to be the most expensive, this approach is usually the most economical.
The aims of evaluation of a breast lesion are to judge whether surgery is required and, if so, to plan the most appropriate surgery. The ultimate