Methods of imaging diagnostics of breast changes in women in the perception of students

Introduction
The most common cancer in women is breast cancer.

Aim of the study
To assess the knowledge of students about imaging methods of breast lesions in women.

Material and methods
The study was carried out in a group of 200 students from various faculties.

Results
Students considered the mammography the most well-known method of breast diagnostics (99%) and the commonly used screening study (84.5%), and digital mammography as the most sensitive test of breast cancer detection (26%). The best method for detecting focal lesions in patients was breast ultrasonography. The most important indication for performing breast ultrasound was the assessment of palpable nodules or lumps in the breast (89%), mammography – sense of hardening during breast self-examination (90%) and genetic burden (72%), magnetic resonance imaging – suspicion of so-called concealed cancer and treatment planner (44% each), PET – searching for distant metastatic lesions in axillary lymph nodes (63%). Magnetic resonance imaging (38.5%), PET (37%), MR mammography (25%), and scintimammography (25%) were considered to be imaging methods that were dynamic studies requiring administration of contrast medium.

Conclusions
The level of knowledge of students varied depending on the field of study, but not statistically significantly. The students’ knowledge about the methods of breast imaging was low; most often they obtained it from the Internet or study classes. They would like to extend it, especially from radiologists.